THE GORGE RAILWAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 109, 3 April 1884, Page 2

THE GORGE RAILWAY.

Speaking at the meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, ti&v W. L. Tbayees made some forcible reawks

on tin; necessity for pushing on the work of connecting Palmers ton and Woodville by rail. He said he wished to bring under the notice of the chamber a matter m which he had taken great interest, and upon which he thought the chamber should express an opinion. He alluded to the connection of the two linos of railway which extended from Wellington — one on the West and the other along; the East Coast of the island. "He then pro deeded to speak at considerable length oo^ the many undoubted advantages ■which must accrue from 'the construction of a- Hue between Palmerston, and Woodville, explaining, as he did so, the position and lengths of lines already constructed or m process of construction m the southern portion of the island. He argued that if such a jseheme were carried out a largo extent of most valuable country would be opened up and find an outlet through Welhugton — a food-producing country of- unexampled fertility. It was a muter of great importance lo the whole of I his part of the island. Speaking of the construction of the line to Palmerston, he sail] the work had been pushed on with an activi ;y unexampled iv New Zealand, and the utmost;, credit was due to Mr Higginsgh for^the manner m which he had pushed the w^rk on. Alludiug to the main central line to Auckland, lie said that was a matter of little importance as compared with the T advantage of connecting the two lines at the MaLawaty Gorge. They could 3 afford to postpone therextension of the] line' to Auckland for a number of years if it Would have the effect of preventing the connection of these two lines. He was greatly m favor of the central line to Auckland, and had no ; doubt that it would come m time, buf ',thej .should not m the meantime 'lose' 'sight of that which was more immediately important. •