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Evening Star, Issue 3503, 15 May 1874, Page 2

With the vietf of opening up the interior of the Seaward Forest, which extends from the Bluff Bailway, which skirts it at its western extremity to the Mataura river on the east, and of thereby bringing its “timber to market, Mr \V. H. Pearson, on behalf of himself and several Invercargill gentlemen, who propose to form themselves into a comfor the purpose, made, in September last, a prapoaal to the Government to construct a railway of 3ft bin gunge and 28ib rails : said branchletto leave the Bluff Railway at a point about three miles from Invercargill, and penetrate the bush and run for about fourteen miles due east through the centre of the present saw mill workings, from thence tending a little southerly to strike through the centre of the western wing of the forest, and at a point about ten miles the line to emerge into the open laud at tha Waitahuna river on the most southerly part of the Mataura plains. For the project it was claimed that it would anticipate the future requirements of a large district, provide an immediate benefit which would afford facilities for bringing to market a necessary commodity, and to hand over to the Provincial Government, free of any expenditure, an efficient railway. In return for all this, and providing ten miles of railway, which would become Provincial property at the end of fourteen years, and along which goods would be carried at 8d per ton per lb. (with a minimum rate of 3s), sawn timber at per 100 ft per mile (with a minimum of fid), aud rough logs in proportion, the p oraoters asked for a lease of the present bush reserve at a nominal rent, or a lease of the railway track, and to have authority to collect the bush revenues at the rates ruling under existing or other future bush regulations, with a minimum of 3d per 100 for red and white pine, and 6 I per 100 for black pine or totara, the promoters agreeing to maintain the present bush reserve as long as such is required for saw-ruilliag purposes. The proposal was remitted by th,e Government to the Southland Waste Land Board for their consideration, and, instructed by them, Mr M‘Arthur, Inspector of Forests in that district reported upon it. In bis memorandum he contrasts the advantage* of the line, the necessity for which ho admits, being undertaken and worked by the Government, with its being in private hand*, and he comes to an irresistible conclusion in favor of the former course, for reasons which he thus states (1) It is desirable the Government should have the. control of all provincial railways. (2) Any company having the absolute control of railway and bush would be in a position to monopolise the latter effectually, directly and indirectly. (3) There would be serious difficulties in working the railways from the point of junction with the Bluff line, in consequence of there being two interests and managements in operation, acting independently of each other. (4) It is desirable that the Government should have the entire control of the bush, not only for the above reasons, but also for revenue arid settlement purposes. ; (5) That calculations show that at the present rates for rental and carriage the proceeds would amount to L 60,000. after deducting cost of construction of railway and working expenses. (6) At the rates proposed by the company the proceeds would amount to L18(),000, after making similar deductions. (7.) The locality has peculiarly favorable advantages for settlement, being near Invercargill and on the lines of railway leading to the Bluff, Mataura, and Winton and Kingston Railways. (8) This is perhaps the most suitable district in the Province for giving free grants of land to poor bub morally well-conditioned families having from half-a-dozen to a dozen members each—the parents and little ones at home and the eider members at service. There is an abundant supply of firewood left by the mills, and timber for bouse building at hand, and the soil being good, is easily put under potatoes and other vegetables. The district will ultimately maintain a very large population. Independent of the reserve, there are several thousand acres of purchased bush which would largely increase )the carriage revenue. The Southland Land Board, the chairman of which is Mr Pearson, recommended the acceptance of the proposal, subject to modified conditions, the principal, of which were laying down 351b rails, the whole work to be carried out under Government supervision and subject to approval; the rolling stock to be sufficiently strong on the Bluff line ; the line to terminate at its juncture with the fcluff Bailway; rates to be : goods at a maximum rate of fid per ton par mile ; sawn timber at a maximum of per 100 ft per mile, and rough logs in proportion ; passengers, 3d per mile maximum charge ; and the company to give a material guarantee that i the line would be handed over to the Pro- i vince at the end of fourteen years in good i repair. In forwarding the documents to the I Executive, the late Secretary for Works made' the following memo., “ While strongly urging upon the Government the necessity that 1 exists for the construction of proposed line,

and adducing very strong evidence that it would be a good paying speculation, 1 deprecate the idea of the Government allowing the proposed line to go out of their own hands. My own opinion is, it would be uu wise to allow any ef the railways to be constructed by private hands, or to allow them to pass from the hands of the Government. Would recommend offer be declined, and that a vote bo taken next year to survey line.” On November? the Executive agreed to decline the proposal, and ask the Provincial Council for power to construct the lice.