SOUTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 836, 7 June 1910, Page 6

SOUTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY.

« A SUGGESTED DEVIATION. IBy TelccraDU— Press Association. - Christchurch, June 6. Tho following is the text of a letter sent by Mr. 11. J. Marriner (acting-pre-sident of- tho Canterbury Chamber of Commerce) to Mr. It. M'Callum (president of tho Marlborough Land aud Railway League):— . "Dear Sir,—lt was with some surprise that I read your remarks at the annuai meeting of your league in Blenheim, in reference to deviation of South Island main trunk railway. I would respectfully draw your attention" to tho following :— "(11 That the leaguo is committed solely to forwarding the interestsoosf s the railway which is to extend south of Ward, via. ivaikoura, and on to.Cheviot. "(2) That at each of tho combined meetings to discuss this matter, no mention was made of any deviation. "(3) That in the interests of the railway, all local interests were to be merged into a scheme of urging the Government to forward the completion of this national railway along above route.

"(t) Thai owing to conflicting interests, my chamlior refused lo sanction either ot Ihe routes from Domett or Cnlverden ends, but were prepared to accept the Government's ruling, and to urge the. completion of the railway.

"(5) That last November tho pile of the combined bridge for rail and othertraffic over the Waiau river was driven, thus defining tho railway route.

"In the face of the foregoing to allow or sanction a deviation of the railway, via Tophouse, to join the Nelson-Buller railway would defeat our ends, break faith With our friends along tho route, especially Katkoura, and cause division of interests and indefinitely delay tho completion of the railway. There must l)e only one policy, and that Is the joining of the railway at Cheviot and Ward, and wo must all work for this end."