RAILWAYS CONSTRUCTION BILL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5521, 6 December 1878, Page 3

RAILWAYS CONSTRUCTION BILL.

Tho following is tho text of the Railways Construction Hill as first introduced in the House of Eepresentives. A Bill intituled “ An Act to provide for the Construction and Extension of Railways.” Be it enacted by the General Assembly of NaW Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of tho same, as follows : The short title of this Act shall bo the Railways Construction Act, 1873. This Act shall bo deemed to bo a special Act, authorising the construction or extension of all or any of the railways mentioned in the schedule hereto, and nny railway constructed under this Act shall bo so constructed under and subject to the provisions of Parts 1., 11., 111., IV.. and VI. of the Public Works Act. 1876, which said parts, together with tho provisions of any Act amending the same, are hereby incorporated. . The Governor may from time to time, in the name and on behalf of her Majesty, contract or enter into arrangements with any person for the construction, extension, or maintenance of all or any of the railways mentioned in tho said schedule, and for that purpose may do or cause to be done any of the following things:—(l.) Cause such inquiries, reports, and surveys to bo made, and such acts and proceedings to be done and taken as may be necessary t« determ ns the best lino and direction of such railway. (2.) Take, purchase, or agree to purchase any land necessary or requisite for the construction or extension of any such railway. (3.) Contract that any of tho said railways shall bo constructed and maintained, or extended and maintained, upon the terms that no moneys shall bo paid or payable in respect thereof until tho whole of the works connected therewith have been fully completed in accordance with such contract. The Governor may purchase, or agree to purchase or acquire, from tho native owners, any lands deemed necessary for the construction or extension of any railway mentioned in the said schedule; and every such purchase or acquisition, or agreement to purchase or acquire any such lands, shall bo deemed to bo a purchase or acquisition within tho meaning of tho Government Native Land Purchases Act 1377. For tho purpose of paying for the construction, extension, ©r maintenance of any of the lines of railway mentioned in tho schedule hereto, or for tho purchase or «acquisition of nny land required for tho same,there may from time to time be issued and applied out of tho Public Works Fund any sum or sums of money not exceeding tho sum mentioned in tho schedule and sot opposite tho name of each line of railway. The construction of the branch line of railway mentioned in tho said schedule as “Main lino to Shag Point ” shall bo contingent upon the cost thereof being defrayed by the Shag Point Coal Company, Limited ; and such branch lino, when constructed, shall be managed and worked upon such terms and conditions as shall be agreed upon by the Minister for Public Works and the said company. Out of any Crown lands withdrawn from sale under the provisions of the Land Act, 1877, the Governor may from timo to time set apart lands of special value for sale or disposal under the provisions of the said Act; but no such sale or disposal shall take place until af*cr two months’ notice thereof has been gazetted.

SCHEDULE—NORTH ISLAND. Lines of Railway, Sums appropriated. 'Wellington to Foxton, by Wert Coast Waltotavft River lo Upper Patea Crossing Te Awamutu to New Plymouth Mkstertou to Papatu via Woodvillo.. Waikato to the Thames Branch line to Hamilton Helensvillo to Kaukapakapa .River .. Wangarei to Kamo .. Any sum not exceeding £440,000 375.000 1,115.000 030.000 103.000 10.000 25.000 30.000 Total £2,775.000 MIDDLE ISLAND, Lines of Railway, Sums appropriated. Otago Central—Dunedin to Albert Town, Lake WnhaUa to Brunnerton Greymouth to Hokitika Canterbury Interior Main Line,Oxford to Temukft Main Line to Upper Ashburton Opawa Branch Extension Waipahi to Heriot Bum Edondalo to Toitois .. «• Otautau to Nightcaps .. Clutha to Gatlin’s River Wairaea to Switzers Lumsden to Mararoa Palmerston to Waihcmo Oamaru to Livingston Main Line to Shag Point .. .. Amberley to Cook Strait . • Any sum not exceeding £1,100,000 050.000 220.000 380.000 55.000 110.000 112,000 110,000 75.000 05.000 70.000 130,000 35.000 105 000 8,000 Total £3,005,000