THE REPORT OF THE RAILWAY COMMISSION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 26 July 1880, Page 2

THE REPORT OF THE RAILWAY COMMISSION.

(by telegraph.)

(from our own correspondent). Wellington July 26. The report of the Railway Commission recommends the following railways : Kawakawa to Deepwater. Mangerei Kamo to Limb-burners' Creek. Auckland station reclamation. Hamilton to Cambridge, including four miles towards Te Aroha. Kopura to Makatoko. Statford to Hawera. Waverley to Kai Aiwi. Featherstone to Masterton. Masterton to Mauriceville. Opawa to Blenheim. Foxhill to Belgrove. Nelson Creek to Brunnerton. Amberley to Hurunui. Lincoln to Lake Forsyth. Tinwald to Mount Somers. Albury to Fairlie Creek. Ferry-Mead to Sumner. Oxford to Sheffield. Sheffield to Hawkins. Duntroon Station to Duntroon. Village of Winslow towards Livingstone, ten miles. Palmerston to Waihemo. Waipahi to Kelso. Kelso towards Switzers, four miles. Edendale towards Toi-tois. Riverton to Orepuki. , Otautau towards the Nightcaps, four miles.

The railways to be postponed are as follow : Kawakawa to Hokianga. Whangarei to Kaimo. Lime Burners Creek to Deepwater. Hamilton to Te Aroha. Te Awamutu to New Plymouth. Tauranga to the Lakes. Makatoko to Woodville. Napier to Taupo. Normanby to Opunake. Belgrove to Roundell. Roundell to Nelson Creek. Nelson to Motueka. Greymouth to Hokitika. Lake Forsyth to Little River. Fairlie Creek to Burke's Pass. Coalgate to Rakia Gorge. Southbridge to Rabaia and Waterton. Orari to Rakahui. ;From four miles beyond Kelso to S witzers. , ; Balclutha to Catlins River. . Lumsden to Mararoa. Helensville to Kaukaupakapu and Whangarei. ; Taupo to Murimotu. j i Napier to Wallingford. ! | Napier to Gisborne. . Wellington to Foxton. : Greatford to Bulls. Bulls to Sandon. ; Petone to Waiweti. Akatore to Hurunui. ' Blenheim to Round Hill— Westport to Inangahua. ; Hokitika to East Coast. ! Brunnerton to Oxford. : Greymouth to Amberley. Little River to Akaroa. Cave to St. Andrews. Sheffield to Wainawawa. Coalgate to Temuka. Canterbury interior. ! Otago Central. ' Kelso to Waikaka.. Lawrence to Roxburgh. Wakatipu to Lake M'Kerrow. . Green Island to Kaitangata. Outram to Clarendon. 1 Kingston to Cromwell. ! Invercargill to Seaward. Mararoa to Otautau. Winton to Nightcaps.

Speaking of the Ofcago Central Railway, the Commissioners are of opinion that the circumstances of the Colony do not warrant the construction of the costly line of railway, for which the engineer's; estimate is L 1,100,000. But a very small proportion of the land through which the route has been surveyed is at" all 'fit for agricultural purposes, and the population is spread over a

district too limited to afford encouragment for bo large an expenditure. The works through the Taieri Gorgia are very expensive for thirty miles. When the necessity arises to tap the interior, surveys ahouljd be made between Livingstone and Nasoby. They regret that so much money has been spent between Hindon and Moßgiel, as they can come to no other conclusion than that it would bo best for the interests of the Colotiy to abandon it entirely. The undertaking is uncalled for, and Bhould not have been commenced.

The Lawrence to Tapanui line passes through indifferent country, destitute of population, and will not be required for many years. The Waipahi to Kelso line should bo completed without delay. Kelso to Switzers.—lt is desirable to make a portion of this line, four miles only. Kelso to Waikaha they cannot recommend, as Waikaka is situated about eight miles from the Waimea district railway. Lawrence to Roxburgh line is unprofitable, and the results of the Lawrence branch form the grounds for declining to recommend the extension of the line. Balclutha to Catlin's.—They recoinmehd that this line be not constructed at present. Green Island to Kaitangata.—They are unable to recommend its construction. Outram to Clarendon.—Same report. Kingstown to Cromwell.—Work not remunerative, and there' is no rational ground for its construction. * Edendale to Tois-Tois.-r-An extension of eight and a half miles along the left bank of the Mataura is recommended. Riverton to Orepuki.—The lino would ' tend to promote settlement in Waiau Valley, which, as well as Orepuki, is completely isolated. "VVaimea. —They do not recommend purchase of this line by the Colony. Ipuntroon to Hakateramea.—An extontension to a point on the bank of the. Wiitaki, opposite the entrance to Hakateramea, is inexpensive and desirable. We recommend that if the line is not completed under: the District Act, the Government should, when further funds are available, endeavor to obtain possession of it and finish its construction.

Windsor to Livingstone.—The completion of ten miles beyond Livingstone, now in hands, will meet the requirements, of jthe district, and we think that the remaining four miles should not be proceeded with until a reliable survey has. been made to determine whether it in. practicable to extend the line to Naaeby,. as, should it prove to be so, it might be desirable to'take the required rise from, the terminus of ten miles of section.- - Palmerston and Waihemo—Three miles have been completed, and we advise that, the line should be continued to Bute r eastwards of Jordan's Junction HotelThere is at present a large traffic bywaggon to the interior on this route. Shag Point—We see no reason why the Government should purchase this line* and the rates of haulage should be raised to a point covering the cost of working it.