THE MIDLAND RAILWAY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1912, 7 August 1888, Page 3

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY

In the coarse of an interview with Mr Alan Scott yesterday morning, a representative of the " Press " was Informed that the work of corjstraotlon of the line would be poshed on as speedily as possible, but the Englneer-ln-Ohlef, Mr Wilson, having to come from Home, and a large amount of surveying work having to be completed it Is Impossible to fix any definite date when the work of formation at the Springfield end will be actually commenoed. There fs no donbt, however, that late In tho spring or early m the summer thero will be plenty of navvy work to be done.

The principal provisions of the contraot as arranged are aa follows :— The Company undertakes to make tho line from Springfield to Brunnerton, and thenoe to BelJgrove, before January, 1895, and m addition they undertake to commence at onoo at the Springfield and Bellgrove ends, In addition to the rrork at oihec plaoea on the West Coast, no Boon as the surveys can be completed and contrtota arranged. The land grant to beglvon Is 60 per oent on the assumed ooafc of the line, v!?,, £2,500,000, and la to be handed over to the Company pro rata, as each section of the line is completed. The sections vary m length, bat woald average about seven miles; It has been arranged that mutual running powers shall be given by the Queen and tho Company over their respective lines and there is alao a provision that if the Company wish to adopt the Abt Byßtem of lnollne instead of the Arthur's P<\ea tunnel, and the Government agree, it will be adopted. These, eliminating tho legal and formal detail?, are the main points In the contraot, whioh has now been signed.

[per press association. J Reebton, Aaguat G. The news of the signing of the contract by the Midland Rill way Company wag received here with great jubilation. It fa considered that the completion of the line from Greymcuth to Reef ton will give a great atimulaß to tho mining Industry by cheapening mining goods, commodities, eto , thna enabling ntonn to bo worked at a profit which now only paya working expeases.