WELLINGTON

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 38, 6 January 1880, Page 2

WELLINGTON

(FftOM OUE OWN CORRESPONDENT.) DI9TBICT BAILWAYB. The Government's proposal to take over certain of the District Railways did not meet with much favour in Parliament, and they had to modify their measure considerably to meet the views of the Legislature. With regard to two of the lines proposed to be gone on with— the Duntroon-Haka-teramea line, and the Wuimate Bntneh Extension lino— it could be urged that they were very necessary lines, and not likely to prove expensive ones to construct, and the Companies which had been formed for the purpose of carrying out the undertakings had not been able to sell their debentures ; hence they were completely crippled. In these cases, unless the Government stepped in to do the work which the Companies were unable to do, the fertile, extensive districts served by these linen never vould have been accommodated. It therefore seemed sound policy to proceed with these lin«s. But the other two— the Waimea Flain9, and the Ka'iaia and Ashburton Forkg Railways — have betu commenced, and very nearly completed by their respective companies, and are expected to be in full working order shortly. It is therefore not quite so apparent what benefit the country would derive from taking these lines over, especially when it is considered that the purchase money (in these wises a very considerable sum) would have to be paid at a time when the Ministry has bean forced into giving stern refusals to go on with other and equally necesiary works, and works which there is now no likelihood of a public company undertaking, •olely on account of the scarcity of money. Nothing need bo said with regard to the Foxton and Sanson line, as the Government never even proposed to take that line over At all. WAIRABAPA RAILWAY. The railway authorities have discovered that the Rimutaka incline is a very expensive piece of line to work, and to make up for the extra outlay this puts them to, they have hit upon the rather novel expedient of charging fares and freights to and from all places beyond the incline aa though they were five miles more distant than they roally are. Thus we now have to pay the fare for 50 miles to go to Feathurston, although it is only 45 miles actual distance by rail, and considerably less thun that by road. This is somewhat of an innovation. CITY TRAMWAY. The shareholders in the City Tramway Company have formally decided to wind up the concern voluntarily. lam afraid this will ju9t about amount to the confiscation of all the small shareholders' shares. The idea is to sell the line and all appurtenances to a n«w company, but nov that it has

leaked out that tbe concern did not cost anything like what the present company paid for it. there would be very little chance of floating a second company to buy at anything approaching the same price. It will probably realise j "st about enough to pay the debenture holders, and the remainder of the shareholders may go to tbe wall. But whatever is the outcome of the matter, it will be satisfactory to see the Tramway placed on a proper basis, and working profitably, aa it has pro Ted an institution of incalculable advantage and convenience to this city.