OUR RAILWAYS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1905, 15 October 1906, Page 3

OUR RAILWAYS.

DEVELOPMENT OF WATER POWER.

NMM 'JPHE MINISTER’S PIOSURE,

I’BESS ASSOCIATION Wellington, last night. Iq replying to a deputation of Poogaroa settler?! who made a rt quest for a light line of railway from Masterton to Waipukaran, the Minister for Railways made some important statements regardiog the development of the latent water power of the country, and its application in the future to cur working railways. Tbo country, ho said, would not go in for an increased borrowing policy, and iD Iho meantime all possible energy would be concentrated on the Main Trunk line. In less than three yoarß’ time this work would bo completed, and Government would bo in a posit'on to deal more liberally with the other works in hand. As Minister for Railways he desired to do the right thiDg in the interests of the oolony as a whole. The application of water power to the working of oar railways would altor the whole syshm Instead of grades 1 in t!5 and 1 in 70 having to bo preserved lines could follow the undulation of the country, and extensive cuttings and tunnelling could bo avoided. In tbo course of time bo bolieved the wholo of the Now Z aland railways would

be electrified, and trains wou'd be running over the lines at intervals of un hour. They really would nos be train?, but chains of a few cars run to suit the requirements of population and tho demands of produoo treffio. Because this could be done it would be possible to construct tighter linos with lighter bridges of a greatly reduced cost, aod trains could be run practical y continuously at a cost not dn exoaes of tbo existing expenditure. This was the policy ho was ever keeping before him. The deputation would naturally enquire, “ When do you thiok is will be possible to have water power applied to the railways ?’’ Iu reply bo oould only

say that any ?ohtme for the application oi water power would bo very costly, and most eireful enquiry would have to be made and dot-oils minutely thought out fcefoie any definite proposa's were made. Difficulties of surveys bad tniaiLd delays whioh had prevented him from barging down oeitnn information i t this oonueo Sion which ho hod hoped to be in a posi dion of p'aoing before Parliam nt at an early dato this session. Water pcw;r, he affirmed, was going to bo a grsat and important f .Otar in the development oi New Zso a >d. Ho bei e/ed that in 12 months’ time he would have foraiu'ated some definite proposals for railing the country on jhe lice be bed suggested.