DEPUTATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 4289, 24 November 1876, Page 2

DEPUTATIONS.

Deputations, consisting: of Messrs J. C. Brown, M.H.8., J. P. Armstrong:, M'Beth, Anderson,|md H. WUson, waited upon the Commissioner of Customs this afternoon to urge tbo desirability of pushing on as as fast possible the completion of the Tuapel a railway. It was urged that the last cpmract for phvtelaying would not be completed earlier than the middle of March, white if there was a bonus offered, of say LSO a week for every week tbo line was completed earlier than the contract time; or if the rails were carted over to Havelock, so that platelaying might go on simultaneously on each side of Havelock—which could also be don? at a cost of about L2OO, there was every reason to believe that the line would be ready for traffic by January 15, in which case the railway would be likely to receive the bulk of the late wool shearing, which it was estimated would yield about L 6.000. In reply, Mr iTLean assured the deputation that the v overnment were most anxious to have tbo line opened for traffic without any delay, in order to get a return from it. To that end they had stipulated for the platelaying being done in the least possible time, and for the opening of the line as far as Havelock by January 15. To ask the contractors to do the work quicker, would mean have a portion of it done at night, and bo running the risk of having the work scamped. Mr Brown the-: urged that a passenger carriage should be attached to the engine that took material between Clarksville and the Bound Hill tunnel, it being stated that if that were done, people coming down country from the Lakes, Clyde, &c., would be enabled to roach town at 3.30 instead of 0.30 p.m,,as at present i but Mr M‘l-ean pointed out that there were difficulties in the way of doing that. However, this and the other matter would be crought under the notice of the Engineer-ia-Chief and the District Engineer, and the arguments adduced by the deputation be brought under the notice cf the Minister of Public Works. The second matter had reference toawatermco at Naseby, negotiaiions in respect to which w>>re stated by Mr M'Lean to be going on at the present time.