THE RAILWAY MATTER AT OAMARU.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4840, 26 September 1876, Page 2

THE RAILWAY MATTER AT OAMARU.

A telegram has recently been published in reference to the opening of a portion of the Christchurch and Dunedin line near Oamaru. Of course gentlemen telegraphing as it would seem in the interests of the Opposition have in this case misrepresented facts. The truth is this, in reference to the opening of the portion of the line in question : On the 14th September the Colonial Secretary wrote to the Deputy-Superintendent stating that the Oamaru to Moeraki line of railway was now ready to be worked as far as the Kaka bridge, and that it would be ready to be opened the whole length in a month, and asked whether the Provincial Government were prepared to take the line over and work it under usual regulations. On the 22nd of Sept. the Deputy-Superinten-dent telegraphed to the Colonial Secretary that the Provincial Government were prepared to work the line, and the Secretary for Public Works, then in Oamaru, had been telegraphed to commence traffic, and if the Resident Engineer required instructions, requested they might be telegraphed. On same day (before the above was received) the Resident Engineer, Oamaru, was telegraphed to by the Engineer-in-Chief_that as Brogdens had possession of the line it could only be used by their consent and without prejudice to their contract, and that he would be informed if the opening by the province was approved. No public train to be run till he was directed to do so.

On the 24th the Deputy Superintendent telegraphed that the Engiueer-in-Chief declined to allow line to Kaka bridge to be opened, although it was considered perfectly safe to do bo, and after describing the state of public feeling, requested that the line might be opened for traffic as per Colonial Secretary's letter on the subject. Meanwhile, on the 23rd (Saturday), the So'i-citor-General was consulted as to the necessary form for obtaining Messrs. Brogdens' assent; and on 25th (Monday), Brogdens were written to by the Public Works department, requesting to be informed whether they would consent to the line being opened without prejudice. The Government telegraphed to Messrs. Brogden and Sons, and a reply has been received from the Messrs. Brogdens, that they are only willing to hand over the portion of the line intended to be opened provided the Government would receive .it as complete, which, as Government consider there is much still to be done in terms of the contract, they decline to assent to.