RAILWAY COMMISSION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2692, 23 November 1882, Page 3

RAILWAY COMMISSION.

The Middle Island Railway Extension Commissioners sat yesterday morning at ten o’clock, nil the Commissioners being present. Mr Henry B. Huddleston, civil engineer, was the first witness examined, and gave evidence respecting a section of the East Coast line, on which he had been engaged to report by the Kaikoura railway committee. The section went from the Red Post hy way of Green Hills. There was great difficulty with regard to levels, but the district was a desirable one for settlement, and a large extent of country would he opened up hy carrying the line that way to Kaikoura. The witness decribed two other routes which he had explored, with a view to obviating the difficulty with regard to levels. One of those routes was quite new, “and he thought would justify inspection by the Commissioners. It started a few miles south of the Red Post at a point known as the Culverden Post Box; from there, crossing St. Leonard’s run, to the centre of Mount Palm, and by a tunnel through Mount Palm on to the north-east corner of the Cheviot Hills run; thence across the ANaiau and on to the Parnassus run by way of Hawkeswood to Fernyhurst, joining Mr Dobson’s Bast Coast line on Mr. R. Tinline’s property. The Crown lands available were neither extensive nor valuable, nearly the whole of the country being in the hands of private individuals. The character of the land generally was good. The population consisted only of those connected with the runs.

In the afternoon Mr John Tinline was examined at considerable length as to his knowledge of the relative merits of the East Coast and the Central lines, his evidence being in favour of the construction of the latter line. He gave statistical information as to the character of the land through which the Central line would run, and figures showing the probable traffic, &c. He described the land between Renwick and Hanmer Plains as good agricultural land, and stated that a number of the property owners along the line were willing to cut up their respective runs into small farms, so as to induce settlement.

The Commission will sit again this morning, when Mr Frederick Back, Railway Traffic Manager, will be examined. It is also expected that Mr O’Connor, C.E., will be present to give evidence, and that the sub-committee of the Railway League will submit the information which they have prepared.