VICTORIAN RAILWAYS.

Colonist, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8328, 16 August 1895, Page 3

VICTORIAN RAILWAYS.

Melbourne, August 15. The annual tenders for coal supply for the Viotorian railways, amounting to 220,000 tons, are invited. Excepting 60,000 tons, balance of an agreement with Newcaitle Oompanie?, Yiotorian coal is asked for. The Committee appointed to enquire into the narrow guage railway system ia sitting. The Engineer-in-Ohief, the Engneer of existing lines, and Professor Kernot, an engineering expert, are all adverse to the system, and in evidence said tbat although the initial cost of the nairow guage was less, the aggregate cost would be greater than the broad gaage system. The latter could be constructed at so small an additional cost that it would be a mistake to break the present guage to seoure a small economy. The narrow guage sys.em might be less costly at first, but as tbe country was developed the broad guage would certainly be more profitable. Economy in conneotion with the narrow guage was not so much due to the guage as to lighter rolling stock and permanent ways. They advocated that the present lines be extended in the shape of light lines, but that the guage be not broken.