THE MOUNT SOMERS SAILWAY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1032, 27 August 1883, Page 2

THE MOUNT SOMERS SAILWAY.

[PROM OUR PARLIAMENTARY CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Saturday. In asking the Government yesterday whether they would appoint a Royal Commission to determine the best route for the extension of the Mount Somers line, the member r for Ashburton said that about seven years since the province expended LIO,OOO in the purchase of rails for a line to Mount Somers. Since then thecolony had expeudedaboutL2o,oooand made about 20 mileS of thta railway. The last contract would be completed in a few weeks, and the line would Lave then reached what the Pubi c Works Department regard as the point of junction with the Canterbury interior main line—a line existing' on paper only, as far as "concerns the county of Ashburton. Now, he did not wish the interests of the district to be sacrificed to any sentiment on the part of the Public Works Department regarding that line—which ia not likely to be made for half a century. The Mount Somers line ia now within a few miles of valuable building stone, coal and timber, and it is desirable that it should be completed to the most central point for developing a trade in those commodities, which will make the line one of the most profitable in the colony. As there is a great diversity of interests concerned, and as the Public Works Department appears unable to come to any decision on the subject, he would suggest the appointment of the Commission to settle the question. If the Department has matured its plana, and will proceed with the work in the direction he (Mr Wright) had indicated—that is all that he or hia constituents desire.