A NELSON AND "WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1369, 18 December 1872, Page 3

A NELSON AND "WEST COAST RAILWAY.

The following are the subjects upon which a Nejson committee, consisting of Messrs Curtis, Elliott, Blundell, Luckie, Shephard, and Sharp, are appointed to inquire and report :— l. The quantity of land in the basins of the Motueka, Buller, and Grey, that would be beneficially affected by the proposed line of railway. The quantity of land in each watershed adapted for agriculture. Ditto containing coal seams, their character, and position. Extent of known auriferous lands, whether alluvial or reefs. Extent of timbered lands, and different kinds of timber. 2. Presput population of each of these basins, and their employment. 3. Present yield cf gold from each district, both from alluvial diggings and quartz reefs. 4. Cost of carriage to the centres of population from the different ports. 5. Prices of necessaries of life at the inland centres of population, and the comparison these bear to these ruling in Nelson. 6. Reasons of these difference in prices. 7. Estimated capabilities of the respective districts to carry population. 8. Revenue estimated they will yield, 9. Probable land revenue to be derived from the sale of sites for townships. 10. The general mineral resources of the districts through which a railway would pass. 11. The imports and (exports at the West Coast ports. 12. Any other subjects bearing upon the question of railway communication.

Another committee was appointed to inquire and report upon the most desirable gauge, direction, gradients, and curves, together with tbe cheapest possible description of railway that is compatible with stability and efficiency ; also, to make suggestions as to any other mode of overland communication between Nelson and the West Coast. And a third committee is to inquire into and report upon the various financial schemes under which the proposed communication may be effected.