RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2253, 27 July 1908, Page 1

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

MAIN TRUNK LINE. ANOTHER £170,000 REQUIRED. (Special to “Times.”) WELLINGTON, July 20. In replying to the Waiuku railway deputation, the Minister for Public Works 6aid that he still hoped to be able to rail tho Members of Parliament right through from Wellington to Auckland for the visit of the American fleet. The gap between the rails was now only a little over two miles.

Mr Massey: The gap will not bo a long one. Mr Hall-Jones: No; but I want to get you -right through on the line, if possible. In connection with the Main Trunk line, he would take the opportunity of saying that .although the two ends of the line were nearly joined the Government would require a ; fair vote this year to comploto the lino. He would probably have to ask for about £170,000.

Mr Massey: Parliament will give you whatever is necessary. Mr Hall-Jones said he might want a- libfclo more than that amount. He wont on to say that now the Main Trunk would be soon out of hand the Government would be able to turn its .attention to other lines of railway. On the list of lines now in progress, there was some which would be finished by the end of the year, some by March next, and some by this time next year. When any . further lines were undertaken he wished to see them moved- along at a rate of progress that would be satisfactory to himself (or whoever was ill charge of the Department), to the people of the districts interested, and to the country as a whole. During the past few years the Main Trunk line had been, pushed forward at a rapid rate, and he would like to see any further railway construction undertaken on the same lines.

* THE EAST COAST ROUTE. A SURVEY ASKED FOR. [Special to “Times.”] WELLINGTON, July 26. Mr A. L. D. Fraser has given notice to ask tho Minister for Railways whether, in contemplation of the early completion of the Main Trunk lino and the Government’s proposed progressive policy in the construction of arterial aiid other lines, he will place a sufficient sum upon the Estimates to liavo a complete and, comprehensive survey of- the proposed route linking Napier and Gisborne. The binding of the6o two important centres will, says Mr Fraser, complete rail communication between Wellington and Auckland, via tho East Coast, developing areas more rich in potentialities than any other portion of the Dominion. I linclerstand the Ministerial answer is likely to be of a favorablo nature.