RAILWAY EXTENSION TO LIVINGSTONE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 731, 13 August 1878, Page 2

RAILWAY EXTENSION TO LIVINGSTONE.

The following petition to both Houses of Parliament is in course of signature in Oamarn and throughout the County of Waitaki :

The Petition of tub un]>eksic;ned Inhabitants of the Town of Oamaju;, County of Waitaki ; Humbly Sheweth—

That a Branch Lino of Railway already exists between Oamaru and the township of Jfg£ipar«, the said branch line being worked by the Government, and yielding highly satisfactory returns. That the boundary of the unsold Crown Lands is close to the township of Livingstone, and that the intervening country i.e., between the said branch railway and the said township of Livingstone, is all fine agricultural land, the greater part of which is under cultivation. That there is a large number of settlers at and about Livingstone, and in the country referred to, and that it is highly desirable that railway communication should be extended thereto at the earliest possible moment.

That in the event of the construction of such line, there can by ho doubt that its earnings would represent a handsome profit above working expenses ; and while in view of this fact your petitioners are of opinion that it would be quite possible to get the line constructed as a commercial undertaking, they respectfully submit that seeing that the Government already works the branch line to and that the proposed extension, is a comparatively short one, it would not only be more convenient that the whole line should be under one administration, but that it would be expedient for the Colony to undertake the extension, inasmuch as it would add considerably to the railway revenue, after deducting all working expenses.

Thej' desire further to point out that the construction of the said railway ext will largely enhance the value of the Crown lands, the leases of which fall in ISBO-1881, and, indeed, believe that suoh increase in value will alone more than repay the whole cost, which, according to the report of Mr. Uss.her, C.E., by whom the proposed line was surveyed, under instructions of- the Government, during the reees**, will not exceed the sum of LBS,GOO.

Vour petitioners therefore humbly pray your Honorable House to take the premises into your favorable consideration, with a view to such action thereon as to your Honorable House may seem expedient. And your petitioners will ever pray.