THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE SOUTHERN RAILWAYS.

Evening Star, Issue 4047, 15 February 1876, Page 2

THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE SOUTHERN RAILWAYS.

As stated in our yesterday’s issue, the Hon. E. Richardson, Minister of Public Works, proceeded by. special train to Balolutha yesterday, and was there waited upon by a number of deputations. We take the following report of the proceedings from today’s ‘Bruce Herald.’ The first deputation was with reference to' I THE WAITEPEKA DEVIATION. The deputation consisted of Messrs John M'Neil, M.P.0., R..Grigor, John M‘Donald, Dunne, Crawford, Stanbrook, and. Fleming. They , were introduced by his Worship the Mayor (Mr diamond), who said the inhabitants of Balclutha had been very apathetic in the matter. He called upon Mr John M'Neil to express his views on the subject. : Mr John M'Neil, M.P.C., said that the Balclutha people were not actuated by any selfish motives as to..the direction in which: the railway went, but acted simply in the public interest. It would make a material difference to the country settlers, who. paid extra carriage on . all the goods they received from and took to Balclutha. Besides, it was a departure from the principle laid down by ' the Government that main lines should be as straight as possible, leaving the remainder of the country to bo tapped by branch lines which would aid as feeders to the main lines.,

(Mr John Dunne said he had been con-: nected with the Southland railway, and from, his experience he was very averse to serpentine railways. He considered that the L 17,00 difference of the estimated c6st of the i two routes, the /Waitepeka and vthe Four-mile; Creek—would go far to make a line not only to Waitepeka, out to Catlin’s River also. It was very apparent that the Four-mile Creek was the route which should be adopted by the country. ; The Hon. Mr Richardson said there was one point which had been lost sight of altogether, and that-was—if the deviation were, given effect to, the line to Balclutha would only be a branch line. The railway; bridge would have to be abandoned, and a new (route eeleoteAright across the island. The engineers had recommended the Four-mile Creek route, and he would like to see iome good reason advanced to show why the advice of professional skill should be set aside. ,

Mr M ‘Donald also spoke against the deviation. He called the Hon. Mr Richardson’s attention te the. river bank,, and said the deputation would like him to pay it a Tikit. ; The Hon- Mr Richardson said that the Government were well acquainted with the state of matters there from reports furnished by their engineers. ' Mr Carruthers wduld be in the district in a few days, an(d he would give him instructions to visit, thfe river bank and report upon it. ; > The Minister of Public Works was also waited upon by a deputation of those favorable to the deviation. The deputation consisted of Messrs Henderson, M.P.C., Somerville, Hay, Brugh, Jenkinson, Christie, and JVhytock.' ' Mr Richardson asked,if there were any new facts which,- could be brought to show thtt the lino should go by Waitepeka. Mr Hrndbbbok said they were rnot aware until, now that there was any opposition to ths Waitepeka route. It went through country, which the other did not ; it had been recommended by the F^vinl^'^Gounell,, and by a aelect cbmjujittee pf the General Assembly. : .-’.V Mr pointed but >( that Jth» Wjdtepeka valley was; ,^e ; centre -of % large pausing district, ex-

tending twenty miles by eight or nine, and that all the roads in the district met in the valley* He also referred to the large trade in coals if the railway were carried by way of Waitepeka, whereas if it were otherwise, farmers would cart them all the way from the pits, and thus the lose a large revenue. iP^sT Messrs Hat and Bruoh haraig sTOrah, The Hon. Mr Richardson pointedp|| that in the event of the deputation ful the whole railway plans tb be altered, and the line carried across the Island.

The Superintendent, who was present, suggested that Mr Richardson and the deputation should go off at once and examine the ground, which they did.

LINB BKTVVBKK ■TAFANUIf*'*. A deputation from Tapanui, consisting of Capt. M'Kemde and MrHowat, next wafted upon the Minister of Public Works, being ~ ~ His Honor the Superintendent was also present. 1 •'' The object of theT deputatidn waa’to uf ge upbh the Gpyeihment the necessity' of foxing a line of railway from Waipahee. tb Tapanui. Mr portance of the distidct, the benefit /.to the public whichwould result from the formation of that line. : , r *

Having read, statistics. Captain M'KenoS spoke in favor of the line, whichheuaid would open up a vast amount of timber country, and Harlot dhd other Hundreds!' vjl In reply to ,iqueStioiis put,'tteStfrKiOTTKNDENT said that a survey was now' being made, mid then they would he in a position to jive an answer to the deputation. The Eton. Mr Richardson said theirmembers would then be in a position to urge thb ; matter in • the Assemby. l r The’ Government were favorably disposed to the formation- of the line. ' THE TUAPBKA, BRANCH LINB. < A deputation'from Lawrence, consisting of-Messrs Ferguson, Squires, mid Williams, and introduced by Mr J. C. Brown, M.H.R;, waited on the Minister of PubUc. Worka-to urge upon him the ; advisability of speedily opening the line, from Milton > to the Bound HiUr - -~ ! Mr J. C, Brown stated that this portion of the line could be \ completed v ii abotit five weeks, while the Bouiid Hjll tunnel would soon be carried through if properly ■ managed. ,• ~ .j' • ; ■ £ Mr RiCHAfiDSON promised that, the linn should be opened as far as the r MaunWa : Creek before the winter. ; The contracts for : platelaying would be let at once. ■i- • ■ —i—■ ■ i ! ii'. i '.I r *?' —— ■■ ■ » ■ ■ 55» r •. *