RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION BILL.

Kumara Times, Issue 644, 21 October 1878, Page 2

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION BILL.

The correspondent of the Lyctelton Times telegraphs as follows, Under date Wellington, October 11 : j The Railway Construction Bill, introduced by Mr Macandrew, gives power to the Governor to enter into contracts for the construction, maintenance, and extension of the lines mentioned in the schedule for the purpose. The following things may be done by him :—Cause inquiries to be made as to the best routes and surveys to be execnted, take or purchase the land necessary for such lines or contract; that any of the said railways shall be constructed and maintained, or extended and maintained, upon the terms that no money shall be paid or payable in respect thereof nntil the whole of the works connected therewith have been really completed in accordance with such contract. The Governor may purchase, or agree to purchase, or acquire from the Native 6wners any lands deemed necessary for the construction or extension of. any railway mentioned in the said schedule, and.every isuch purchase, or acquisition, or agreement to purchase or' acquire any such lands shall be deemed to be a pur- ; chase ; or acquisition within the meaning of the Government Native Purchase Lands Act, 1877." The sums.mentioned in the sehedule are to, be deemed appropriations for the line. The- main Hue to Shag Point is to. be paid for by the Shag Point Coal Company Limited. • Out of any Crawn lands, withdrawn from sale under the Land Aet, the. Government may set apart any as of special value, and sell them after giving a month's Gazette notice. The schedule of the Bill, naming the various lines,: and the amount (any sum not exceeding) is as follows : £ Wellington to Foxton by West poast ... ... ... 440,000 Waitotara River to Upper Patea Crossing ... ... ... 367,000 Te Awamutu to New Plymouth 1,115,000 Masterton to Papatu via Wopd*me - ...'630,000 Waikato to the Thames ... 168,000 Branch line to Hamilton .... 10,000 Helensyille to Kaukapakapa „ r River , ..'. 25,000' Wangarei to Kaniio .... ... 30,000 ~ Otago Central Dunedin ..to " Albert Town, Lake Wanaka I^loo,ooo Amberley to Brunnerton' ... 950,0Q0 ■;■ Greymouth to Hokitika ... I "'^ Canterbury Interior Main Line,- -" -' Oxford to Temuka-,.. ;■„. . 380,000 Maul Line to Upper Ashburtan 550,000 Opawa Branch Extension ... 110,000 Waipahi to Heriot Burn ... 112,000 Edendala to Toi Tois ... . ... HO,O(K> '•" Otautau to Nightcaps ... •■■„;; 7s'ooo - Clutha to Catlin's River ... 95000 Waimea to Switzera ... ... 70,000. Lumsden to Maroroa ... ... 18O'OQ0 Palmerston to Waihemo ... 35;000 Oamarii to Livingstone ... 105^000 Main Line to Shag Point ... 8,000 Amberley to Cook Strait ... NiL