THE RAILWAY WHARF.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5012, 17 April 1877, Page 2

THE RAILWAY WHARF.

A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce yesterday waited upon the Hon. the Minister for Public Works in respect of the proposals for extending the wharf accommodation of the port. The following gentlemen composed the deputation :—Messrs. Dransfield (chairman), P. A. Krull (vice-chairman), Walter Johnston, M.H.R., J. JR. George, and Captain Rose, and the secretary, Mr. Carroll. Mr. Dransfield said the Chamber of Commerce having received information from' Messrs. Walter Johnston and Hunter as to the proposals of the Government with reference to additional wharf accommodation in connection with the Wellington and Masterton railway had appointed the deputation in order, to gain further information on the point. But before going into that question the deputation would like to know whether in the event of it being deemed advisable to deviate from the scheme originally proposed in reference to a railway wharf (so as to reclaim a further piece of land, and effect a junction with the Queen’s Wharf, thus enabling trains to run right up to it), the present vote of £25,000 for a Wellington railway wharf would be available for such a purpose without further reference to Parliament.

Mr. Ormond : That is, as I understand the question, whether the £25,000 or any part of it would be available for carrying the railway to the present wharf? Mr. Drahsfield : Yes.

Mr, Ormond remarked that that was a question which required a little consideration and looking into. There was one thing in connection with the matter upon which he should like to make himself clear. In order to carry the railway on to the wharf it would be necessary to reclaim all the foreshore within the line, extending from a point (the back of the Government buildings) on the land now being reclaimed to the point at which the railway would strike the wharf—the second T; but the area of land thus reclaimed would not all be required for railway purposes, and it would, he conceived, be unfair to charge the whole of the cost of reclamation against the railway vote. What the cost of the reclamation would be he had not had time to estimate yet, but the engineer informed him it would be very considerable. Mr. Johnston said the deputation, first of all, would like to know whether the £25,000 voted for a railway wharf could be expended in reclaiming the land ; whether, if the money were spent in connecting the wharf and the railway that would be expending it within the spirit of the vote—in fact, whether if the present wishes of the Chamber were to be complied with the vote must lapse, and a new vote betaken? The Chamber of Commerce, if this were the case, would rather see the railway wharf gone on with—anything to prevent further delay. Mr. Ormond ; I should like to be perfectly plain on this point. I have made it my business to enquire as to the probable return from a railway wharf, and I am bound to say from the enquiries I have made such a wharf would not be used to an extent that would result in its returning anything like an adequate sum, or at least a sum which would justify the Government in spending the money. Although the money has been voted, the Government may not feel itself justified in spending the £25,000 unless there be a prospect of its being profitably expended. And Ido not think if the present idea of the Chamber of Commerce were carried out that the £25,000 ought tobe touched except to pay the cost of reclaiming the extent of land actually required for railway purposes. He did not know what extent of land must be reclaimed altogether. Mr. George : About five acres.

Mr. Kbdee pointed out that the Government would require land enough for woolsheda and receiving and distributing sheds, so that the laud upon which the permanent way would be laid would scarcely be all that was wanted.

Mr. Dkansfield suggested that perhaps the City Corporation would take the responsibility of the land not required for railway purposes. One thing was very clear, more wharf accommodation was required.

Mr. Osmond : No doubt; and perhaps it would be better for Wellington to get an extension of the wharf than to get a railway wharf so far away from the Queen’s-wharf. Plans were then produced, and a long conversation ensued as to the merits of the relative proposals, in which it was mentioned that the Chamber of Commerce estimated that the reclamation of the five acres would cost about

£20,000, that the material for filling up could only he got at Kaiwarra, ami Air. O’Aialley might undertake the work. Air. George pointed out what the Corporation had decided upon doing, and suggested that the railway might run on to the whart aloi)£ the centre T, where the liiiiglhh would discharge. . . , , , Air. Ormond said from the enquiries he had made, he was led to believe that wherever it was attempted to work the railway and cartage systems on the one wharf they clashed ; and besides that, the Chief Engineer seemed to -tV’nfc that there would be a difficulty in taking tie line on to the wharf, owing to the height of tlie wharf above the ordinary level. After a little further conversation, Afr. Ormond enquired whether he was to understand that tlie idea of laying the rails up to the wharf was approved hy the mercantile interests of Wellington. Air. Johnston said he thought so. Air. Kuull urged that the work should be got ou with as soon as possible, and remarked that the timber was already to hand. Air. Ormond promised to consult his colleagues, and let the Chamber know what the Government were willing to do. The deputation then thanked the Allnister, and withdrew.