RAILWAY COMMISSONER'S VISIT TO NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8957, 13 December 1890, Page 2

RAILWAY COMMISSONER'S VISIT TO NEW PLYMOUTH.

« MR E. M. SMITH INTERVIEWS MR MAXWELL. Mb E. M. Smith, M.H.R, waited on Mr Maxwell, one of the Commissioners of Railways, and Mr Uotherham, loconiotive superintendent on Friday, when the member for New Plymouth made an appointment with those gentlemen to discuss matters connected with the district. Mr Smith first showed Mr Maxwell anil Mr Rotherham his exhibits of mineral producta of the district, which he lias arranged in the small house at the back of the Town Hall, with a view of explaining to those gentleman that the whole of the roljing stock and railway plant could bo mado'cheaper and bettor than that which was imported from the raw material, to be obtained in the colony. Mr Maxwell said they would be willing to do this, provided the raw material could be produced cheap enough, Mr Smith pointed out that a trial at the Onehunga Iron Works would prove that. He said he, had received an offer from the managing director of those works, and was told to make an application in writing for a trial to test liia (Mr Smith's) process for smelting the ironsand, and he was going to apply for permission for a trial at once. Ho hoped, therefore, that in a few months ho would be able to inform Mr Maxwell of the actual cost of producing both iron and s steel from ironsand. Mr Maxwell said he thought that would be the best plan; ■ ! LOCAL MATTERS.' Mr Smith then drew Mr. Maxwell's, attention to the fact ■. that such an important station as the one at New PlyV'ad been only lighted up with two kerosene lamps on the night of tho Governor's arrival. Mr Maxwell said he would instruct the District ' Manager, Mr Hankey, to have the gas laid on to' the station at once. Mr Smith then informed Mr Maxwell that there was an abundance of coal at Mokau, and its quality for ' railway purposes was excellent, and asked why it was not used. Mr Maxwell, in reply, said they were testing the coal- got from all parts of the colony in a systematic manner, and that he would order a cargo of coal from Mokau to be sent to Lyttelton to be tested with the other samples. Mr Smith then said that be believed the same mineral belt as the Mokau coal was to be found at Tikorangi, about 6 miles from Sentry Hill. He pointed out that this belief was derived from geological formations, samples of which he showed. The Commissioner, Mr Maxwell, stated that he -would recommend the Mines Department to send an .expert at once to examine the ground at Tikorangi, so as to compare the Mokau formations with it, and if this expert's report was satisfactory then he would further" recommend the Mines Department to put a test bore down. Mr Maxwell said if coal could be found in that direction there would Jbe no difficulty, in running a line to Tikorangi, as a cheap, good coal was what they most desired to getIn the afternoon, Mr Smith accompanied Mr Maxwell and Mr Rotherham as far as Liardet-street to look at the railway bridge there, with a view to its being' shifted and raised, in order to put it straight with the road, and also to allow , the road to be brought to its permanent leyel. Mr Maxwell said he recognised the ad visibility of altering the bridge, and added that he saw no difficulty in the work being carried out, provided the Borough Council aided in forming the approaches. Mr Maxwell further said he would communicate with Mr Hankey at once, in order that that gentleman might move in the matter, and forward all information ' to the Commissioners without delay. Mr Smith then conducted the visitors " to the Recreation Grounds, which were 1 greatly admired by Mr Maxwell and Mr Rotherham. The party then returned to town, when Mr Smith pointed out to Mr Maxwell- the advisibility of acquiring part of the reclaimed land as far as Grill-street, and a portion of land in Brougham-street for a railway site ; and also the advisability of making a retaining wall in front of the railway station with the aid of prison labor. Mr Smith then introduced Mr Maxwell and Mr Rotherham to Mr Berry, who spoke to them on business matters.