THE WAIAREKA RAILWAY.

Evening Star, Issue 3437, 26 February 1874, Page 3

THE WAIAREKA RAILWAY.

The line, for most of the distance, runs through easy country, there being scarcely a steep gradient throughout, and no bridges of any magnitude except that across the Waiareka, near Mr Lees’s propet ty, Teaneraki. The land for line and stations, from the terminal point near the Tables, to within about a mile of the junction with the main trunk, is given by the landowners, who have signed an agreement to that, effect. The extension to Maerewhenua is for the present abandoned, the Awamoko branch line running up as far as Harris’s in this direction, and the present contract ( Waiareka branch) being from thejunction with the main line near Sewell’s farm, through Cave and Waiareka Valleys, to some distance beyond the Windsor Park and Elderslie properties, a length of about miles. If we remember rightly, no less than four different surveys have been made, in each care a slightly different route being taken; that now adopted is spoken of with approval by the settlers in the district, and is said to be the least costly. The present is a most favorable time to invite competition, as there is abundance of labor in the district, now employed in harvesting, which will be available just about the time the work requires to be commenced i and if the contractor—whoever he may be—embraces the opportunity to put on sufficient strength to commence the work simultaneously at several different points, the line may be constructed with great rapidity. It should be open in time to bring down next year’s produce to port for shipment, and to this end the rails should be ordered without a moment’s available delay. That the line will be a paying one we have no doubt. Were it open now there would be from two properties alone some three thousand tons of grain to be carried over nearly the whole length of the line, and the same producers will have an equal, if not a larger quantity next year. Then there will be thousands of tons of stone brought down from the Cave Valley quarries, and a large quantity of other freight j besides, for the length of line, a not considerable passenger traffic. Indeed, we venture to predict that the line, if economically worked, will pay from the very commencement. The Waiareka will make the fourth line of railway converging on Oamaru,