OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY

Dunstan Times, Issue 954, 30 July 1880, Page 3

OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY

The following is that portion of the Railway Commissioners' Report referring to the Otago Central Railway : We are of opinion that the circumstance? and requirements of the Colony do not warrant the construction of this costly line of railway, for which the Engineer’s estimate is £1,100,000. But a very small pr »- portion of the land through which the road has boon surveyed is at all (It for agricultural purposes, and the population spread over the district is far too limited to afToul encouragement for an expenditure so as that proposed for this line. The works through the Taieri Gorge tor a distance of over 31) miles are Of a very difficult, and expensive nature, consis ing to a great extent of a succession of curves through rock cutting, and as there is no access from the country on either side, this portion of the line must remain totally unproductive When the necessity arises for a railway to tap that part of the interior of Otago which comprises the Mauiototo Plains, the Ida Valley, the Dnnstan, ami the Upper Chitlin, careful surveys shorn! ho made with a view to find a cheaper ami shorter route, and one which would pass through a smaller portion of unprofitable country. Prom the evidence brought before ns on the subject, wo think special attention should bo given to the survey of the country between Livingstone und Nasehy, as a line hy this route would shorten the communication between the interior and a port of shipment by many mi'es. We desire to express our regret that so much money has already been spent between Hindon anil Mosgicl, as from our examination of the line, we could come to no other conclusion than that it would bo for the best interests of the Colony to abandon it. The entire undertaking is, in our opinion, uncalled for, and should nut have been commenced.