BRANCH RAILWAYS.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 194, 22 January 1875, Page 4

BRANCH RAILWAYS.

The inhabitants.of Otago, although they failed to obtain any money from the General Assembly for the construction "of branch railways, seem determined to put their shoulders to the wheel and construct them privately. Speaking of some of the proposals the Otago Daily Times says “ One of the most important and promising of those branch railways was that proposed to be constructed between Outram and the Southern Trunk Railway. Mr Jas Shand. M.P.C., is taking active steps to form a company in the district for carrying out the work, and we have no doubt his well-known perseverance will enable him to succeed in effecting his object. A meeting will shortly be held in the district for the purpose of discussing the matter, and we believe that if the settlers do not determine to carry out the work Mr Shand will do so himself. Another very important branch line is that proposed to be constructed from the main trunk line, about two miles north of the Clutha river, down to Kaitangata township, to be ultimately extended to Coal Point. Energetic efforts are being made to have this work proceeded with at once, and the line will probably be completed as far as Kaitangata township as soon as the Dunedin and Clutha railway is open for traffic. The first sod will be turned by the Hon Major Richardson in the second week of February next. The line is to be made by a local company, and Mr Coyle, C.B,is now engaged in taking levels and preparing plans. His Honor the Superintendent has been communicated with, and has promised every assistance in his power to the enterprise. Five promoters or directors have taken the work in hand, Mr A. J. Smyth being the managing director. There will be no difficulty in obtaining the land necessary for the line, as the principal landowners in the district—Messrs Smith Bros, Pillans, Maitland, M'Donald, Aitcheson, Page, Gilroy, and several other settlers have expressed their willingness to take an active part in the work, and where the line passes through Government land, it will be given gratis to the company. The line will be five and a half miles in length, and will join the main trunk line at the forty-eight mile peg. It will be of the same class, and equal in every respect to the main trunk line. The promoters have already secured all the sleepers required for the Rne, and intend to send an order to Great Britain by the next mail for rails and a locomotive. It is proposed to work the line when finished with the Government rolling stock. It is reasonably anticipated that the grain and passenger traffic will render the line remunerative, exclusive of the large returns likely to be realised from the coal trade. The excellent coal found at Kaitangata is largely in demand in Tuapeka and other up-country districts, and doubtless a large trade with Dunedin will be established when railway communication is completed.