EAST AND WEST COAST AND NELSON MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 280, 3 July 1886, Page 2

EAST AND WEST COAST AND NELSON MIDLAND RAILWAY.

We extract the following from the Hon. E. Richardson's Public Works Statement :

The subjgct of the construction of this railway has been so fully discussed in this House that it is unnecessary for me to make much reference to it .to-night. My opinion as to the desirableness of its construction is well known, and ever since the Public Works scheme brought forward by my lion, colleague Sir Julius Vogel in 1870, I have taken every opportunity that has offered itself to promote railway construction between the East and West Coasts of the Middle Island. It was suggested to me immediately after last session that fuller and more reliable information as to the resources and nature of the country should be procured in the event of anything occurring to cause the contract now happily settled to fall through, and therefore I instructed Mr Blair, Assistant Engineer-in-Chief, to visit the District and re orfc more fully than had been previously done, and collect such information as would probably be required by Parliament in case the Government had asked for a vote for the construction of this line. The report will be very useful, and the maps attached to it will also, I am sure, be very interesting to lion, members, and of great service for future reference. The first of these mftps shows the present settlements in jfche country ; the second the description of land: third description and area of forests; and fourth localities of several descriptions of minerals as far as is at present known throughout the district. On all these maps the railways constructed, in course of construction, and lines now under contract, as well as those lines which the Government considers will be required in the northern part of the Middle Island are clearly marked. This report with maps will be printed and laid on the table in a day ar two. lam now justified in expressing a hope that before the House meets next year, works on this great railway will be fairly started. In connection with this railway it is proposed to construct branches from the Inangahua Junction to VVestport, and from Tophouse to Blenheim, but as neither of these lines have as yet been surveyed for contract, it would not be possible to do any work upon them within the present financial year, and I therefore only propose to ask for sufficient authority to enable the necessary surveys this year.