THE CENTRAL OTAGO RAILWAY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 804, 14 September 1877, Page 3

THE CENTRAL OTAGO RAILWAY.

—o—(From the Daily Times.) Wellington, September 7. The Central Otago Railway Committee reported to-day. After recounting the seven various routes proposed, the report proceeds to embody the following resolutions, which were moved in the Committee by Mr Macandrew, and agreed to 1. That the route to Cromwell via Strathtaieri is unquestionably that which opens up tho largest area of unsold land available for pastoral and agricultural settlement. 3. That tho respective County Councils of Taieri, Maniototo, and Vincent, failing the Colonial Government undertaking the work, are prepared to do so on condition of a given area of land being placed at their disposal, and to hand over the line, when completed, to tho Government. 4. That a public compinycanbe at once formed in Dunedin, which will undertake to construct this line under Government supervision, provided a concession is made to them of 300,000 acres of land, being about one-fourth the area of the unsold land which will be tapped by the said railway'. 5. That it is absolutely necessary, in the interests of settlement, that the work shall be forthwith proceeded with, either by tho Counties concerned, or by a private company', and that, in either c lie, with a view to accelerate the progress of the work and of diffusing employment throughout the district, the work of construction should be commenced at each end of the line simultaneously. Tho Committee recommend the construction of the Strathtaieri line to the favorable consideration of the Government, and, in the event of the Government failing to construct the line, that a Bill be introduced this Session to give effect to these recommendations without delay, which, in the present state of the labor market, would, in tho opinion of the Committee, he injurious, if not disastrous, to the best interests of the Colony.