REPORT OF THE RAILWAYS COMMISSION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 177, 27 July 1880, Page 2

REPORT OF THE RAILWAYS COMMISSION.

[From a Correspondent.] Wellington, Monday night. The report of the Hail ways Commission was laid before Parliament this evening. It alludes to the different lines in the Provincial District of Nelson as follows: — IfoxniLL to Bell Grove. —This short extension, which is now completed, or nearly so, will render more available a moderate amount of bush country sufficient to justify ttie cost of the work. Bell Grove to Eoundell.— Except as part of a trunk line from Nelson to Greymouth, this section would not yield a return sufficient to warrant its construction, which we cannot therefore recommend. Rotjndell to Nelson Creek. — Between the Roundell and the Hope there is no inducement to agricultural settlement. Between the Hope and Nelson Creek, although the mineral wealth of the district is beyond dispute, the industry connected with it does not afford sufficient traffic to warrant the large outlay required for the construction of this line, and, owing to the great extent of bush land which is now opened up by railways throughout the colony; there is not sufficient inducement to make a railway on account of the timber. That the west coast of the Middle Island does not offer much inducement to agricultural settlement is 1 patent from the fact that, notwithstanding the large population which has been employed in gold mining for the last fifteen years, and the consequent demand for agricultural produce at extreme prices, the total area of land cleared for farming purposes during all those years is of a very limited extent. The character of the country is difficult throughout, and the portion of the work between Hampden and the Inangahua Junction would be very costly. The length of thiß line, from Bell Grove to Nelson Creek, is 140 miles, and the estimated cost £1,200,000. Nelson Creek to Brunnerton.— This extension would form the key to the trafic of the whole of the mining district of the Grey Valley, and would improve the receipts of the existing section. It could be worked with ecoaomy on account of the low price of fuel , and the small addition to the present staff which woald be required. We recommend its construction without delay. Nelson to Motueka. — This line would run for many miles of its length through poor and broken country, and is rendered less necessary by good and far more direct communication between Nelson and Motueka by water. Westport to Inangahua. — This would be an exceedingly costly work, and would afford no present prospect of a reasonable return for the outlay. Westport to Ngakawhau.— ln our opinion this line should not have been begun until the coal owners were in a position to put traffic upon it, and we think that haulage rates should be charged upon a scale calculated to meet, as far as possible, the interest upon the large cost of its construction. In the report there are twenty-eight lines recommended to be proceeded with at once, including Nelson Creek to Brunnerton ; seven to be proceeded with when funds are available ; twenty-one to be postponed, including Bellgrove to Roundell, Roundell to Nelson Creek, and Nelson to Motueka ; and twenty-nine not recommended, including Westport to Inangahua.