OTAGO RAILWAYS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1605, 23 November 1912, Page 7

OTAGO RAILWAYS.

DEPUTATION TO THE HON. W, . FRASER. ■ CBr Telegraph.—Preß3 Association.) Dunedin, November 22. A joint deputation representing the Dutiediit Expansion League, the Otago Central Railway League,' and the Lawrence-Rox-burgh Railway League, waited upon the Hon. W. Fraser, Minister for Publio Works, this evening to urge the claims of Otago with regard to railway , and other matters. It waa pointed out that there was no desire to unduly harass the Government, but that it was considered. that at the present juncture an assurance might be given that the two railways would not be neglected. . In reply, the Minister expressed sympathy with tho object of the deputation, but pointed out that the present was not quite the time to urge the matters laid before him, having in view the urgent necessity in various parts of the Dominion for the construction of roads and bridges.,. He had found it necessary to curtail railway . expenditure by about .£200,000, but he had been obtaining advice from the Engineer-in-Chief of-Railways as to the construction of a light line up the Cromwell Gorge, and ho found that such a line could be constructed for ,£SOOO per mile, whereas standard lines would cost from ',£BOOO to .£10,(100 per mile. He was not in a position .to commit the Government to any definite promise, but Mr. Massey would be in Dunedin shortly, and would probably be able to speak with