THE BLACKBALL RAILWAY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 26 November 1901, Page 3

THE BLACKBALL RAILWAY.

(our own correspondent.)

Wellington This Day.

Mr Guinness M.H.R. an! Mr Wright Managing Director of the Blackball Coy interviewed the Premier and Minister of Works yesterday to arranga terms between Government and the Company, upon which the latter would guarantee sending all its coal output over the proposed bridge and railway from Blackball to Ngaherc. The deputation also urged the early letting of a contract for the bridge and railway which was authorised last session by act.

The Hon Hall-Jones said if the Cabinet approved of the terms proposed by the Company, complete plana and specifications could be prepared, tenders called and contract let in three or four months. He promised, after a long discussion of the conditions of the Company’s guarantee and prospects of the mine, to consider the matter in Cabinet and forward to Mr Guinness their final decision.

The deputation met with a very favourable reception, and your me über thinks there is at last every hope of this much desired work being shortly started. Mr Wright offered to guara: tee £1.500 a year. This was arrived at on the basis of 3d per ton on the outputs by wav of freights on coal for a period of 7 years, subject to a deduction in cases of accidents or unavoidable stoppages of the mine - The Company also asked that Government should refund the ccst of the sidings at Ngahere.