The Daily Times. THE OLDEST MANAWATU JOURNAL ESTABLISHED 1875. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1884

Manawatu Times, Volume X, Issue 1332, 28 October 1884, Page 2

The Daily Times. THE OLDEST MAN AWA TU JOURNAL ESTABLISHED 1875. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1884

We are glad to learn from Mr. D H. Macarthur, M.H,R., thafc there is every prospect of the junction for the Gorge line being at Terrace End. In the Statement the words. "Napier to Woodville and Bunnythorpe" are used, but this is because that route was fixed at the inauguration of the Public Works policy m 1^72, and a change can now only be effected by vote of the House. The Minister tor Public Works had no option but to take the line as laid down, and leave any deviation to be dealt with by the House m considering the Statement. We are assured by Mr Macarthur that no effort will he spared by him to have the junc* tion at Terrace End, and, there is every reason to believe that Jhe'

Houee will alter the schedule accordingly. It is decidedly to the interest of the Napier members to support the route which shortens the distance to Wellington, and this is the A3hurst-Terrace End route, while the Wanganui members will also be m favor ef the line which bears directly on the Harbor Board Block. Besides this, the Terrace End route is the best on its merits. It itf an eaaj gradient from Terrace End to Ashurst, as against a ■ difficult one from Ashurst to B'nnnythorpe, while the. distance, from Ashurst_ to Terrace End via Bunnythorpe is 11 miles 56 chains as against 7 miles 35 chains by the easier route, the claims ot which are being advanced. Of the 11 miles 57 chains via Bunnythcrpe 4 miles 67 chains are already constructed as part of the Wanganui Foxton line. This. leaves 6 miles t7O chains to be\ constructed from ' Bunnythorpe to Ashursl if this route were adopted, and at first sight this appears to be an argument against i the Terrace End- Ashurst line. But it is not so, for the simple reason that owing to the heavy engineering difficulties, the cost of the 6 miles 70 chains from Ashurst to Bunnythorpe is estimated at £29,000, while the 7 miles 85 chains from Terrace End to Ashurst are only estimated to cost £28,200. The.direct line to Terrace End will therefore be the cheaper of the two to construct, will possess, the easiest gra** dit-nts and therefore will cost the less for maintenance, and will eftect a saving m distance from Napier to Wellington of ,4 miles 22 chains. Thfc arguments m its favor are overwhelming and we therafore confi* dently hope to be able shortly tore • cord the change of title of this particular section, the openingof which for traffic is. so intimately connected with the prosperity of .Palmerston and the North Island generally.