THE MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13427, 20 May 1909, Page 7

THE MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS.

iHS VISIT TO THE WEST COAST.

fvnou orr. jutoiuu;. ' REEFTON, May IV. ! Tho Hon. J. A. Millar evidently i «:ucic<! Smiles'* "Self Help' deeply b,I fore TLMtinp th* West Coaet. as ho h»» born proaehin- thai .sespol wersincI arrival in tins pan- oi the Donnmoi.. ! The \Ye<t Cca< people were tola in i plainest that the Govorni nout i* not spina: to mnko them the I j,i«r <r r , in which are-■»)»■ such happy moip.orv. and that any public money spont hero ha* to slum- a reasonably ! ~,„„•„ The Greymouili Harboui Buiid. for instance, has boon told to make its revenm- cover its expenditure •■vithoi.it- any delay. . i \ bu(3--"t of railway vrants :iv het-i----ton before the Minister last, vveninp:. aiv.l again there was eon-.e refreshing candour about his replies. A deputation pointed out that Reci- ! ton was over a- mile from the- present ! railway -tution, and oskod thnt a haoKshiuil Vnoiikl be put in. H also enlarged on tho importance of the extension "f ihe line to Crush ingtmi. argultii' thai tills would connect ultimately ' wkh the main line from Culverclen t-.i i Nelson. 1 Mr Millar was decidedly discouraging ! on" both these subject-. In reference Ito the backahunt, he said that, would require a special Act of Parliament. iud even if it were built, it woul-i > not pay. H. asked h • the Reef ton I people "were prepared to specially rate ; them-ielves to guarantee the interest on Ith cost of construction. He told tb«'deputation plainly that there was mi chance tor fresh railway authorisation this year. The Government intended '. to &top tho tinkering policy of spend- ; ing « low pounds here aiul there, which : did no goof.* to anybody. Tim main i lines must bo completed. 1 "I may as well tell you nl once*.'" IMr Millar continued, "in my opinion i there will be jio Kail ways Atithorisn- ■ tiou Bill of any kind whatever this \ .-ossion. Some of the railways already ' under construction we will take to err- ; tain points and stop then?."' j The work asked for by the <Jeputa- | tion was no doubt n necessary one. Inj continued, but as they were aware. ;it took the Government all their time Ito take the railways into the back blocs with a view of encouraging se-t----j tlement. If they were to take tho line lon to Crushington. it would be- taken ito Nelson. That railway would eveu--1 tually go on to Nelson by that, route. ; Tho Government had enough to do or. present with the Midland line and the north section from Nelson to the Hop<Saddle, without starting a third on« ! from Crushmgton. ! The deputation indicated that Reef- ! ion would probably consent to a special J rate for the backsbiuit. They had ;i j number of partly Jocal matters to dis- ; curs, and were promised favourable replies if tho Department could accede to tho requests without financial loss.FROM REEFTON TO WESTPOKT. The Minister left Roefton this morning for Westport by special coach, the route lying through tho beautiful Builer Gorge. He. was piloted by Mr .1. Colvin. M.P., and accompanied by Mr Ronayue (General Manager of Railj ways), Mr Burnett (chief engineer), and several railway officials of the West, j Coas>t, section. The weather, which on the previous day had been execrable, had cleared, and tho journey was accomplished under most favourable conditions. The proposed lleoiton-Westport line has been the subject of much discussion lately, and no doubt tho Minister viewed the route with much interest from a railway as well as a scenic point of view. Tho line is already open from Reefton tor some miles, and the forraetion works are proceeding up to Inangahua junction, which is some 20 mues from Reefton. For a considerable pan. of this distance the country ia not at, all difficult so far as railway construction is concerned, and, as far as one could judge from a box seat view, the land would lend itself to reasonable development. There is one long, heavy cutting, near O'Regan's, where mcii still have to go to a depth of 57 feet. From all appearances, it will take at least three years to get to Inangahua junction, and from all accounts tho Government are not at all likely to accelerate its construction. As far as the construction of the line through the Buller Gorge is concerned, the coach tr ayeller can see absolutely nothing which would justify the enormous expenditure of public money which would be necessary. The surveyed line mns along the opposite side of. the Gorge to that on which the coach road is situated, and its construction would almost certainty entail the destruction of tho scenic grandeur of this Gorge. The majestic mountains, clad now with virgin forest, would inevitably be swept with fire, and the J desolation of the incline scenery would jbo repeated. Tho difficulties of oon- } structing the line would be tremendous, and one is absolutely unable to see that the revenue to be returned would pay axle grease. It is argued by eujpporters of the lin« that it would serve rich agricultural hack country, but tbu traveller is unable to sco where a settler could get reasonable access to the lino. If tho flat land which is said to abound at tho back of the bills docs exist, tho Dominion is faced with the I certain destruction of a magnificent I scenic assat in order to secure a very problematical railway revenue. However, there is no doubt that the railway through the gorge is still in the J very distant future, and hints are bejmg dropped that the lino is likely to share tho fa to of the Lawrence-Rox-burgh line, and be withdrawn from the Government programme. The Westport section of the railway extends for a distance of five miles from j the town to the ferry on the. Bullfr ! river known as the Nino Mile. The i formation and bridging is practically j completed, and platelaying is proceixling. The lino lies through country r which is not too attractive at present, but which may bo improved. The i bridging has been heavy, as it includes i a viaduct over the big overflow ehan- ! nel, consisting of about 60 spans of 18ft each. Viewing the railway as a whole. ; ono cannot, from p. cursory inspection ;of the route, say much in" its favouV. i and probably tho Government would jdo bettor for the Dominion to pay mom ! attention to the development of tourist , iraffie through the Buller Gorge. Th<» \ '>ush. mountain, and river scenery m surprisingly beautiful. The coach Voad is an excellent one, and the coach service entirely satisfactory. The Coast people are. oi course, very keen on the i lint.-. The Minister and party crossed j Ui(> Uullor river ot the Nine MilI ft-rry. an<l worv cordially welcomed by tho Mayor oi West port and representatives oi ](x;i! bodies. j Tho Minister will visit the Soddonv.lle .St.Te collieries to-morrov.-. uil , receive deputations in the akornoon :iiid bt> l..ai)(iu<tu-'l in »(u> t>veniim. Hn ! lenv.-x; Vy Friday's stonmer for V..?vr» n