OUR RAILWAYS.

Evening Star, Issue 3855, 2 July 1875, Page 3

OUR RAILWAYS.

We have every reason for believing that it is intended to open the Southern Trunk line of railway from Dunedin to Balclutha about the Ist Sept. In view of this event, we deem it our duty to call attention to the fact that as yet apparently no steps have been taken to provide a temporary station at the Clutha terminus—the river bank. There is yet time to havethisdone, but no time to lose in making a commencement. We Clutha Leader’) regret to say that the difficulties with the swamp through which the railway passes to the north of Stirling station are not yet overcome. The line has been gradually sinking of late, and is MV present upwards of 4ft below the proper level. We hear an attempt was lately made to sound the swamp, and that at a depth of 70ft bottom was not found. It is a pity some means to ascertain its true nature were not taken before the line was formed. ‘ As it is, no one has any doubt now but that the line must be deviated round the swamp before it can be safe for traffic, and the sooner this is set about the better. The swamp only a very small one, and had a curve been adopted at first much unnecessary expense and vexation would have been saved. Apparently the promoters of the Kaitangata railway are allowing no rime to be lost in carrying out their enterprise. Already thirty men are at work, the formation being executed by Chinamen, and a number of Europeans are erecting the culverts, &c. The following is the Engineer’s report upon the preposed WaitepeUo diversion of the South 5 ern Trunk Line:—“ln my opinion the line selected by Mr Brunton is the better of the two—viz,, that by way of the Four-mile Creek. The Waitepeke Valley, through which the petitioners wish the line to be taken, is certainly a richer and better settled valley than the other, and if a branch line only were proposed it would be the better line. If the line is [taken by way of Four-mile Creek, the Waitepeka settler will have to cart their produce two miles further than if it were taken through their own own va'ley. On the other hand, the whole of tire traffic between Dunedin and the districts south of Clintonjwill have to pass over more than a mile leas of railway, with better gradients. In effect, if the Waitepeka deviation is adopted, it will be equivalent to laying a tax of from 4d to 6d a ton on all traffic between Dunedin and the south, in order to save a chai’ge of Is fid per ton for cartage on the very much smaller business of the Waitepeka Valley.” Tokomairiro is determined to have the branch railway to the coal-pits in that district, the construction of which the Provincial Council during its late session refused to sanction. A very enthusiastic public meeting was held at Milton on Wednesday for the purpose of considering the propriety of establishing a public company to construct a branch railway Ine to the d'own-the-river coal pits. In the prospectus of “The Tokomairiro Valley Railway Co. ,”tobe registered under “ The Joint r tock Companies’ Act, 1860,” previously circulated, it was proposed that the Company should have acapital of L15,000,in 3,000 shares of L 5 each; The resolutions carried by the meeting affirmed that it is imperatively necessary for the advancement of the district that this railway should be construbted without loss of time; that when L 5,000 worth of shares were sub scribed, tenders for the construction of the line should be called for ; and strongly urging upon the landholders over the surveyed Hno the propriety, on public and private grounds, of clealing liberally with the Tokomairiro Valley Railway Company, in conveying the necessary lands, say one-half chain wide, as a free eift, as already done by the Kaitangata settlers. Mr Joseph Mackay, to whose energetic advocacy Tokomairiro is ’indebted for the movement, and MrjClark, M.P.C., |q oke most hopefully of the prospects of the undertaking. It was stated that Mr D. Proudfoot had offered to take L 7.500 worth of shares ; and when the line was completed Tokomairiro coal could be supplied in Dunedin for LI per ton. Jhe Mayor of Milton who presided took fifty shares; and Mr Mackay undertook to take LI,OOO worth *f shares, besides giving free such land along the route of the line as he possessed, 'dhe ‘Herald’ this morning says that the shares are going off rapidly.