OPENING OF THE CLUTHA LINE.

Evening Star, Issue 3769, 23 March 1875, Page 2

OPENING OF THE CLUTHA LINE.

The following letter from Mr W. A. Murray, M.H.R, appears in to-day’a ‘Brace Herald*:—

As there are many contradictory stateaients made about the opening of the Dunedin and Clutha Railway, permit me, for the information of those who take an interest in the matter, to state, that on Tuesday last I made inquiries in Welington, and learned that the contractors expect to be able to hand over the line to Government in July. From what I have seen since my return, I am led to agree with the department in. the conclusion that this estimate too sanguine, thongh the Government has n ?Y , n ,° the railway being completed before the contract time, the Ist of Sep tember next. It is greatly to the advantage of the contractors to push forward the werks to completion. They get a bonus of L2OO per month, for every month that the railway is completed within the contract time. They avoid the great risks and contingent damages which may be caused to a railway such as this from winter storms and floods, besides many other expenses incidental ta new railways, more especially to such as are superfacially constructed, while their plant and 10 per cent, deposit is released to them for the prosecution of other works. In view of this early oompletien, it is improbable that the great expense will be incurred of sending rolling stock out by road, and keeping up separate sets at different parts of the line, which would be requisite, as the four bridges at the Waßola and Taieri are so backward that they will probably be only a few weeks earlier ready than the tunnel. There are also great disadvantages, understood only by the initiated, of working the line for passengers at the same time that it is being used by the contractors, and of virtually taking over a railway before it has been properly tested, inspected, and approved. While these are the views expressed to me, I am assured that the Government will d» all in their power to give ; he public the earliest possible possession of the railway.