THE NORTHERN TRUNK LINE

Manawatu Times, Volume X, Issue 1329, 24 October 1884, Page 2

THE NORTHERN TRUNK LINE

Through some error, as yefcyane** plained, the following portion of the debate on the above was pot fqr« warded to us iv time for publication yesterday : — ■) Per Press Association. Wellington, October 28. In the House to-night, the debate on the North Islaad Trunk Railway Commiuee's report was openedThe Minister of Pub.io" Works moved the adoption of the NorthIsland main trunk railway report. He said the committee had made the fullest inquiry yin : . taking all available evidence, and he belie red the House would agree with the committee that the Central line was the best route by which the settlement of the country could be attained. The committee considered the Napier route. .did not possess the essential points which were required for a trunk line. The Stratford ..' line possessed several elements which ; should be taken into consideration -when fixing upon the central trunk line. There were a series of difficulties from ao engineering point of view, the grades being comparatively heavy. The cost of the Central route would be one million three hundred thousand pounds, and the •Stratford line nine hundred and seventy-nine thousand, In conciuv eion, he moved " That the Central Route be adopted, subject to djevia^ tiohs m detail found necessary during construction." ..,•■■- .V Mr Montgomery, as one of the committee, could say the committee had gone into the qu«ation with, the single idea of doing what; was jbest , for. the country. He had differed from the majority. The Marton country wai fairly settled for several miles but beyond this distance there was good land for settlement. As for the Stratford line, it had bee A stated that for fourteen miles from Stratford the land was magnificent but, beyond that, poor and brokenj. It should be borne m mind that the Taranaki line bad always been agreed upon. The district was rich, and. had been settled on the understanding: that the railway should ; be. constructed, j 'Dr .Newman thought the central route was incomparably the better at the two, ; being thoroughly/ well : timbered, aod~th« land 'exceedingly fertile- He hoped the House would adopt the Central route. : . ; ''"'- / i . Mr r ßuckland (Franklin Not^i): believed that if an impartial opinion were obtained it would be in' favor of the Stratford route . . j .Mr Fergus intended. to vote ,fpr the' Central line, ' as "he "believed a much larger 11 ea of fertile country would be opened up by the Marton line. than by .the other,. , r r . ,r I / ■ ofo said •>* the ;chief|i- ' fficnlties 'of the" Stratford' line- had been overcome already by the poiv tion of the line already constructed:. JEIe would vote for) the Stratford ; rOUt6.: .. '. ;. ;.-:•,, 1..'.') ":•:: .{ V \ . Sir George Grey moved an amend > _ment to strike out the wojrcM* Cefa« tral " , ami • fo nrnWrirn;tiie , • word " Stratford^'" He spoke strongly; m favor of the ; ; Stratford ion te, and said that itjwould cost £400 000 less than the Marton line. .: 'Major Atkinson spoke under Beve* ral disadvantages, : partly fronuJbiS connection with ; the : New 'Ply'mduf h : district and also ; because the committee had taken great .pains to come to their decision, j? He would not condemn either route; as he be 4 lieved both were good ones, and they would have both to be made erejpngi Theresas quite as mtich good?, land 'to^be opened, up by the Stratford, line as" there was by the' Central, "* He intended to vote for thejStratford route...,. .. . : .... ..■■, .'.. , ■■ : / j Mr Stout (Premier) said the Go; yern ment had .never sanctioned a line to Auckland via Stratford, : but .parliament -had sanctioned, a • trunk line, to, Auckland. 5 [ He would ask the hpn. member for Egmont •• Why if he thought the Stratford line the >best, his Government /had .surveyed the central line personally ?" JiHe had no feeling m the choice of roufe; bu t t maintained that the. best should be ado jted ; 'also. the. easiest of construction. Ef © '.thqUgbt jdyery« thing 1 was' m favor of the central l'onte. . -■ .. ' -.->....., 1