DEMAND FOR RAILWAYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 26 August 1908, Page 12

DEMAND FOR RAILWAYS.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER WELLINGTON, August 19. Messrs A/ W. Hogg and R. B. Ros«, M.P."s, introduced to the Minister of Railways Messrs John M'lntyre and James M'Donald (representing the Pongaroa Railway League) and Mr W. S. Mason (chairman of the Maeterton Chamber of Commerce) to again urge the contsmction of a railway from Waipukurau to Pongaroa. In reply to their representations, The Minister said this was only one of the several deputations that had been asking for railways, and other people pleaded that they were in circumstances similar to those outlined by the deputation. The Government's difficulty was to know where to start. With the eai'ly completion of the Main Trunk line, the Government would be able to consider which were the most urgently required. Six years ago estimates and trial surveys ■were made. A line to traverse the country from Masterton, Pongaroa, Weber, and Dannevirke was estimated to cost £552,750, or £6107 per mile. A line via Pahiatua and Dannevirke was estimated to cost £650,363. He did not think, however, that any line through the district could be constructed at a less cost than £7600 per mile. With the amount that? would be required for the Slain Trunk line this year, it would not be possible to do a great deal for new lines. He undertook to place the matter before the Cabinet, and promised, if possible, to get one of his engineers to make a more detailed report on the, probable coat of construction. If the line waa going to increase the value of large estates, and those estates were suitable for settlement, that aspect of the case would have to be taken into consideration.

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