SOUTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 29

SOUTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS. WELLINGTON. August 18. A deputation representing the South Island Main Trunk Railway League and Kaikoura bodies urged on the Prime Minister the necessity of completing the South Island Main Trunk, a matter of 90 miles, between Parnassus and Ward. They asked that £IOO,OOO be placed on the Estimates for the railway, and £20,000 for roads and bridged It was pointed out that the rivers in the Kaikoura district were the only ones unbridged about Blenheim and Bluff, and that 35 miles of lino between Pictoa and Ward had taken 35 years to complete. Tho Hon. Mr Maeeey. in reply, .said that the contract was already jet for a bridge over one of the worst rivers. The completion of tho lino was only a matter of time and money.

Tlio Hon. W. Fraser promised a grant on the Estimates for bridging dangerous rivers. Ho added that the applications for public works this session were six or seven times as great as the money available. The Minister reminded the deputation that some £44,000 was spent on the trunk lino last year, ono stretch of line being 10 miles. Ilis engineers estimated that the cost on an average was £20,000 a mile. They must be careful to choose the best route, and inquiry was now being made. He had seen many grave mistakes made in public works in New Zealand, and did not want his name associated with any such mistakes.