THE WEST COAST RAILWAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5735, 16 August 1879, Page 3

THE WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Some two months back it was announced in our columns that the surveys for the railway as far as Johnsonville had been sent in to the Public Works Department, and had been approved of, and we were then informed that there: was every probability of tenders being called for within a very short time. The source from which the information had been derived appeared to bo a thoroughly reliable one, and it has.been a matter of surprise to ns why the commencement of the work has been delayed for such a length of time. We now learn, however, that there was some difficulty in obtaining the land through which the railway has to pass, and that Mr. James Wallace had a copy of the plans furnldied to him six or seven weeks ago, and throogh great exertions on that gentleman’s part, the consent of all the owners of property along the route, as far as Johnsonville, has at length been obtained. Mr. Wallace deserves the congratulations, not alone.of the people of Wellington, but also of the population along the coast, for the pains he has taken in the matter. The following is a copy of a letter which he received from the Under-Secretary for Pubic Works, and w;bich has been kindly placed at bur disposal : “Public Works, •; . “ Wellington, 15th August, 1879. , “Sir, —In reply to your letter of the 12th instant, I am directed by the Minister for Public Works to inform you that the delay in proceeding with the first portion of the Wellington to Foxton railway is how. only caused by the necessity for ensuring the best possible line. “ The line firs 1 plotted has been gone over several times, with the view of improving the gradients, and the plans and specifications that have been prepared for tenders are only awaiting a final inspection of the line, in order that the Engineer-in-Charge maydetermine whether or hot the gradients can be yet further improved upon. “ You can make this information public, as requested. “John Knowles, " Under-Secretary for Public Works. “Mr. James Wallace.” According to the plans spoken of in the above letter, it is proposed that the railway to the West. Coast shall start from the site of the present terminus, until it reaches the junction of the Hntt and Tinakori roads, where it will cross the road on a bridge, about half way down to Kaiwarra. The line will then be taken through the hills, and along to the course of the Kaiwarra stream up to the point where it effects a junction with tho Karori stream. It will then proceed in the vicinity of what used to be known as Crofton College, where Mr. St. Hill formerly taught, and a station is mapped , out just close by. Leaving that place, the line will cross the bid Pofirua-road on to Mr. White’s property,’ going along till the summit level is reached at Mount Misery, near where Mr. Andrew’s property is situated. After leaving Mount Misery, up to which point the gradient is only 1 in 40, the lino will be taken on to Johnsonville through Mr.; Hobbs’ property, and a native reserve in that locality, passing through the land lately belong- ' ing to Dr. Taylor ; and it is proposed to have a shunting station at Johnsonville. A flying survey has been made of the route between Johnsonville and Foxton, and reports have been sent in. It is stated that a very . easy line has been discovered, and that the re-. ports recommend that the line should run parallel with the road from Johnsonville to Porirua, passing round the harbor until it reaches London's wharf, where it is proposed to carry it across to Paramatta Point on a substantial bridge , similar to the one which spans the Hutt Biver above the Silverstream. From thence it is proposed to carry the line along by the old Pukurua bridle-track, over a low saddle, some 150 ft. in height, and then gradually descend tor a distance of about four miles, until the level of the beach is reached. ■ The line will then go for some distance along the beach, diverging in an inland direction behind Waikanae and Otaki, and through the large block of land lately purchased in that vicinity from the natives. It is stated that the country in this direction is almost perfectly level, and that the railway can be carried in something like a near approach to a straight line right on to Foxton.

It is expected that the first section of the line —probably a mile and a half- —and the reclamation of the 40 acres of land between the railway and the baths, Will be carried on simultaneously, in order; that the earth excavated for the railway line may be Used in filling up the portion of the harbor to be reclaimed. The line, taking it throughout, is considered an exceedingly easy one by the engineers, and they are said to have expressed an opinion that a speed of 40 miles an hour could be reached by using one of the newlyimported Fairlie engines. It is r to be hoped that the people of. this province will not have to undergo any further disappointment, and that something like common justice will at length be done to the settlers who have so long patiently looked forward to. a commencement of the West Coast railway, which, when completed, cannot fail to be one of the best paying lines in the whole colony.