LIGHT RAILWAYS.

Evening Star, Issue 3430, 18 February 1874, Page 2

LIGHT RAILWAYS.

Tenders are invited till March 27 for the construction of light railways up the valley of the Waiareka and in the W eatern district of Southland. The first-mentioned extends up the Waiareka valley to the “forks.” or the confluence of the main upper “gullies,” immediately below tho table land. The distance is 14 miles 72 chains. The construction of the line will be of considerable benefit to the district, opening up and rendering available as it will do to a large extent of good agricultural country on either side of the line, as well as tapping the country beyond in the direction of the Upper Awamoko. Tha opening up by alight railway of the valley of the Waihemo as tar as Wayne’s, a distance of about ten miles, would to a great extent benefit the interior districts, and be of advantage to the settlers along the course of the line. Its construction, reported the Provincial Engineer in July last, would obviate the urgent necessity now existing for metalling the present road, which could only be accomplished at a very considerable expen-e. The line leaves the Northern Tru-k Bailway a little above Oamaru, and follows up the valley of the Waiareka, passieg through Cave Valley. The works are not of a very extensive description. There will be a span bridge of ptone apross the Waiareka, and numerous culverts both of stone and wood, Stone is easily procurable ip the district. Mr Simpson estimates the cost of construction at L 10.650; permanent way, L 15,450; rolling stock, L 2,000; total, L 31,100; or about L 2.073 per mile. The Southland branch line will be let in three contracts. No. lisin an instalment of the Biverton-Orepuki line, 7£ miles ; No, 2, Liver ton to Wallacetown, connecting with the Inyercargi 11 • Wintern line at the Mataura bridge, miles • and No. 3, Riverton to Utautau, 16 miles. The latter will be carried acroasthe Aparima on a timber bridge, 265 ft. in length, of 33ft. spans. There will also be a bridge of similar size on the line to Wallacetown. These lines will open a vast amount of fine agricultural and timbered lands, and assist materially in developing the coal and goldfields of that part of Southland.