THE WEST COAST RAILWAY ROUTE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2709, 13 December 1882, Page 3

THE WEST COAST RAILWAY ROUTE.

The President of the Chamber of Commerce has kindly forwarded for publication the following letter received by him to-day on the subject of the views of the Government on the desirability of a report on the line to Reefton : Railway Offices, Chistchnrch, 12th December, 1882.

Sir, —"With reference to the doubt expressed by the deputation from your Chamber, which waited on the Hon. the Minister for Public Works yesterday, as to whether the information which the Railway Commissioners informed the Hon. the Premier they would be able to furnish would bo information upon the Maruia route only, and not include the line via Reefton, I am now directed by the Hon. Mr Johnston to advise yon that, in reply to a telegram sent yesterday, the Hon. Mr Whitaker wires to the effect that the Chamber may rest assured that, if the present Commission docs not deal with the subject of the railway from Canterbury northwards via Eeefton, the Government will appoint another Commission, so as to be able to lay full information before Parliament next session in respect to all the routes proposed, including the lino via Eeefton.

Hon. Mr Johnston trusts that the above assurance will meet the wishes of your Chamber.

I have the honor to he, sir. Your obedient servant, N. W. Werrt, Under-Secretary for Railways. W. Devenish Meaxes, Esq., President of Chamber of Commerce.

We have also been favored hy Mr Chrystall with a copy of a telegram received by him on the same subject : Wellington, December 13th, 1882. W. Chrystall, Esq., Chi'istchurch. In reply to your telegram of December Ist, I have to inform you that if the present Commission does not deal fairly with the question of the West Coast railway another Commission will he appointed to consider the vai’ious routes, so that full information may he laid before next session of Parliament.

(Signed) Thomas Dice,