West Coast Railway.

Patea Mail, 31 July 1880, Page 3

West Coast Railway.

The Report of the Railway Commissioners contains recommendations as to the prosecution or suspension of portions of the through Railway along this coast. The substance o,f those recommendations has been already telegraphed from Wellington by our. Correspondent, and published in the Mail. Following is the full text of the Report so far as it affects the West Coast Railway : STRATFORD TO HAWERA. This section is part of the main line between Foxton and New Plymouth. It is now in progress, and as it will open up a large extent of land suitable for settlement, we advise its early completion, HAWERA TO WAVERLEY. This portion of the main line passes through good country, but as it will be more expensive in construction than that line between Stratford and Hawera, and there is already a good dray road, we recommend that contracts for the work be not called for until the more northerly section is completed and open for traffic. WAVERLEY TO KAI IWI. This is an important portion of the main line, of which a large partis already completed. Wo think the remainder, which is now in progress, should bo finished and opened for traffic as soon as practicable. The land it passes through is good, and and there is already a large amount of settlement. NORMANBY TO OP UN ARE. This is a branch Hue through the Waimatc plains to the coast, with little population to support it, the construction of which wo think should be postponed unti' the mainline connecting the East and Wes* Coasts with Wellington be completed. CONNEXION with WELLINGTON. The Report deals also with the Southern sections of the groat through line from Wellington to Wuitara ; and the Commissioners condemn the connexion win Foxton, and recommend the longer route through the Gorge. They say : FEA THE RS TON to MAS TER TON. The contracts upon this section are approaching completion. It opens up a district supporting a largo population who have been long settled, and it will be the means of increasing the traffic- upon the portion of the line which is now open. WELLINGTON TO FOXTON. This line would be in direct competition with that which we recommend should be constructed by way of the Manawatu Gorge. But apart from that fact, wc consider that the proposal is premature, on the ground that a large part of the country it would open up is still in the hands of the Native owners, and inexpedient on the ground that the value of the land which the railway would reserve has been greatly over-rated, and that the undertaking would bo an unprofitable one, which the colony would not be justifies! in entering upon. We advise that the expenditure now going on at the Wellington end of the line be at once stopped, and the labour employed thereon transferred to Mastevton and Manriccville section. GREA TFORD TO B TILLS. This is a short branch of four miles in length. It would be expensive to work, and it appears to us that the district is already fairly supplied with railway communication.

BULLS TO SAN DON. Sandon is within 8 or 9,miles of Greatford Station on the one side, and it is about the same distance from the Feilding station on the other. The proposal is one which we cannot recommend. BAIL WA Y MAN A GEM ENT. The Commissioners recommend the running of fetver trains on existing lines, to reduce expense ; and the conversion of small stations into flag stations, for picking up by signal only. Rates on Australian lines for wool and agricultural produce are rather lower than in this colony, but mineral rates are higher. Timber is carried at a loss in this colony when the distance exceeds 75 miles. Rates, they say, should vary with the circumstances of each district. IMPORTANT SUGGESTION. The Report says : — <l We are of opinion that the constructed railways of Ne\v Zealand should not continue to be, as at present, under the management of Commissioners subject to the control of a Minister ; and we recommend that in the place of that system, a Board of Management should be constituted, consisting chiefly of men of business knowledge and business habits, free from political influence, and having as nearly as may be the same status, holding the same powers, and exercising the same functions as the Board of Directors of an English Railway Company.”