OTAGO REQUIREMENTS

Otago Witness, Issue 3566, 18 July 1922, Page 57

OTAGO REQUIREMENTS

OLUTHA VALLEY RAILWAY. DETAILS OF THE SURVEY AND COST. (Fsox Oc* Own Cobbebi’ONDßNtJ WELLINGTON, July 14. All the Otago members of Parliament, except Mr Sidey, who is ill. met the Minister of Public Works this morning to bring under his notice various matters connected with the welfare of Otago. Mr A. S. Malcolm, who introduced the deputation, asked for an assurance that when the hydro-electric scheme was completed the present Waipori scheme would not be prejudiced by the imposition of a flat rate. The Hon. Mr Coates said thpre was no intention of interfering with the present rights of D'unedin. In any case he said | it would be a long time before the national scheme was-completed. In further conversation, it appeared to members of the deputation til at ultimately, so far as rates were concerned, Dunedin would be linked up with the national scheme. in regard to irrigation and the LawrenceRoxburgii railway, Air Horn took the opportunity of thanking the Aiinister for what, had been done. Otago, he thought, might consider itself fortunate in having received ! such consideration from the Minister. j Mr Coates said he believed as the result of irrigation Central Otago would one I day be one of the most thickly populated districts m New' Zealand, and that this would result in the Otago Central line becoming a paying one. Messrs Echo and Malcolm urged that the surveys and reports on the Clutha Valley railway routes should be expedited, Mr Edie remarking that he considered the district had been very shabbily treated. ’the Minister said that tliai was nothing to what Mr Malcolm had been saying to j him. Tiie Minister said that, the surveys j and reports were now practically completed. • He gave the following summary of the result of the survey:— Route. Crichton to Tuapeka Mouth, via Hillend : distance, 31 miles 7 chains; cost, £594,900; junction, Crichton station. Lovells Mat to Tuapeka Mouth, via Lovetts Creek and Hillend; 29 miles 54 chains; £549,810; Lovells Flat Station. Lovells Flat, to Tuapeka Mouth, via Stoney Creek and Hillend (1 in 50 grade); 28 miles ■37 chains: £577,000 ; Lovells Flat station. Lovells Flat to Tuapeka Mouth, via Stoney Creek and Hillend (1 in 40 grade); 27 miles 5 chains; £479,600; Lovells Flat station. Stirling to Tuapeka Mouth, Riverbank 1 route: 22 miles 50 chains; £247,100- Stirling ! station. In u all cases proposed terminal station is about three-quarters of a mile south of the junction of the Tuapeka River and the Clutha River. The surveys had been submitted to the Railway Department for an expression of opinion as to which line would suit them best, and he hoped to get an early reply trom them. At his request the Hon Vv Nos worthy was obtaining a report from tha agricultural experts as to what was the best route from their point of view. Air J. M. Dickson look the opportunitv of asking Mr Coates if he would support the proposal made to the Prime Minister yesterday regarding preliminary work in : connection with the straightening of the i railway at Pe icliot Bay when the matter ! came before Cabinet, and the Aiinister an- ! KheSo* £ ""“ W ' Jhe deputation, speaking to Air Coate. m his capacity as Postmaster-genera! made representations in regard to the subsidised mad service between America and New .jealand, 10r which it was stated the Union company received a subsidy of £25 000 a .year. Greasing the fatted sow.” was the expression Mr Malcolm used in regard to AuflWand 3 present advantage the deputation urged that a more equitable arrangement should be made in especi. «o freight charges to southern port® He admitted Unit the North Island wa, pro' grossing faster than the South Island and oe‘ ,w °v-W Ut t. did ‘his pr^! it. • b ' y objected to was iJeing £2s am' f VTh "w r)roVKl ' r, fe r a subsidy of ±.23.000 f„r the Vancouver service wVch “ G '> •«*?, X ? rth Island - They’ wished to Jiaie m the benefits on equal term* hv the pro vis, on of a flat rate for fre i possible to secure a more equitable arra’—n nent respecting the Vancouver service hit piov.d conditions be provided for the large IskirT 8 ' °T e ? a ' V . ln °ats, which the South Gland conducts with Melbourne.