N.Z. Government Railways.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 September 1910, Page 4

N.Z. Government Railways.

HISTORY AND DETAILS. The following details inegarding the Government railways of New Zealand are to appear in the completed official iear Rook for 1910: RAILWAYS. The history and progress of railways in New Zealuad was specially described in the Year Rook of 1891. as was also the line, partly built by the New Zealand Midland Railway Company. An account of the line lately belonging to the Wellington and Manawatii Railway Cninpanv was published in the Year Rook for 1895.

In the year ISO!) a contnact Mas let for the construction of the first New Zealand railway. I'p to the year 1870 there were only 10 miles of railway in operation. In that year the construction of ira.ilwa.ys came to he part of the public works policy just then initiated, and the Railways Act of 1870 authorised ceiitain lines to be made and surveys ol others. In 1870 the abolition of the provinces placed the earlier-constructed railways in the hands ol the General Government. At that time there were 718 miles npenj'or traffic.

In December. 1908. the Government acquired by purchase the (railway between Wellington and'[joughurn, eighty-four miles in length, completed in IBSU by the Wellington -Mn na \\ atu Railway Company. The entire railway system, with the exception ol a few miles of private lines used lor specific purposes, such as the carriage of coal, timber or stone, is now owned and controlled by the State.

The length of Government railways open on the 31st Mairch, 1910, was 2717 miles, of which 1114 were situated in the North Island and 1573 in the South Island.

The sections of the North Island lines consist of Mie Kawakawa, 8 miles; Whangarei, 23; Kaihii, 17; Gi.sbnrne-'\\ aikohu, 23 miles; ,md the North Island main line and branches. 1073 miles. The South Island sections comprise the Souiit.li Island main iine and branches, 1323 miles; Westland, 138; Westport, 31); Nels'on, IS: I'icton. 31 miles. The estimated total cost of construction to 31st March. 1010, was £28.513.170 (besides C 1.807,715 spent on unopened lines), and the average cost per mile of open line £10,194.