THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7178, 1 June 1891, Page 3

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

« The following correspondence has been received by Mr A. 6. Howland, the VicePresident of the Executive of the Midland Bailway League :— Public Works Department, Wellington, N.Z., May 26, 1891. RE MIDLAND RAILWAY— LAKE BBUNNER DEVIATION. Sir,— l have the honour, by direction of the Minister for Public Works, to forward for your information copy of a telegram which waß sent on Saturday last to the General Manager of the Midland Bailway Company, conveying the decision of the Government with regard to the proposed deviation of the above-mentioned railway near Lake Brunner. I am also to express the hope that the conditions mentioned in the telegram referred to will be considered satisfactory, as being only a fair compliance with the provisions of the law, and such as the exigencies of the case require.— l have, &c, fl. J. H. Blow. Assistant Under Secretary for Public Works. (Copy Telegram from the Minister Public Works to the General Manager of the Midland Bailway Company.) Wellington, May 23, 1891. Bobert Wilson, Esq., C.E., General Manager Midland Bailway, Christchurch. The Brunner Deviation. — As Government understands that your Company has given the assurances mentioned hereunder, and the other provisions of the law in reference to the matter having been complied with as far ac possible at present, and on the provisions of paragraphs 4 and 6 hereof being duly complied with, the Government will thereon be prepared to advise His Excellency the Governor to authorise the making of the deviation in accordance with provisions, Midland Bailway Contract Act, 1890, if your Company will signify its concurrence in the Government's understanding of the matter aa hereinafter stated. The Government understands (1) that Company will call for tenders for construction Eutuku section of deviation line immediately Governor's assent to deviation is notified to them, as promised in your telegram of yesterday, and will also let contract for same in due course, and will further proceed without any avoidable delay with the construction of the remaining portions of the said deviation line. The Government also understands (2) that Company undertakes that the maximum cost of the] deviation line shall be within about* -21000 of the amount which the original line between the commencing and tenninat-

- ing points of the deviation could have been b constructed for, as expressed in your tele- . gram of yesterday already referred to, r Government further understands (3) that . Company undertakes to flatten grades on f constructed portion of its railway between j Bcunnerton and Kaimata to an inclination . nowhere steeper than one in sixty, as stated t in your letter of May 5, and that this will be done on or before line is open for traffic ( to the Otira Gorge. (4) As regards the ; widening of the Founamu-Lake Brunner I road and the maintenance of a steamer upon ' the lake, the Government is advised that the power of attorney which you hold from your Company does not empower you to execute the contract which has been entered into between the Company and the Grey County Council. No doubt a contract has been entered into, but the Act contemplates a legal obligation capable of being enforced at law, and the Government is advised that in this respect the Act has not been complied with. With the view of furthering the work, however, the Government thinks that if you would agree to deposit the two thousand seven hundred pounds " before " the deviation is assented to, and would also obtain from your Company a ratification of the contract with the Grey County, and would also deposit a further sum of two thousand pounds in some Bank in the Colony in the name of the Minister for Public Works, to be f orfeitable in event of contract not being ratified by Company within six (6) months that difficulty might perhaps be got over in that way. (5.) As regards the running of the steamer, the Government accepts the asBurance contained in your letter of May 5. i (6.) Company to at once make cash deposit of ,£SOOO in name of Minister for Public Works as security for due completion Bel^rove contract on or before Dec. 31, 1893, as already arranged. R. J. Seddon. ;