RAILWAY ROOTS FIXED.

Patea Mail, 4 August 1882, Page 3

RAILWAY ROOTS FIXED.

PROGRESS OP CONSTRUCTION. The Government have finally adopted one of the surveyed routes between IVLmntabf and Hawera, to complete the through line. A Patea resident just returned from Wellington informs us, on official authority, that the line is fixed;to go by a route near the main road ; and we understand that this route deviates from the one previously adopted, and so avoids tunnelling. It was thought that the easiest ami cheapest line would he found skirling the bush, and joining at Normanby, leaving Hawera with a branch. Whether the political weight of Hawera has prevailed we cannot say. It would be a pity to leave Hawera off the main line. Now that the route is fixed, we hope the construction will be pushed on with all speed, chiefly because this short unfinished link’ of 10 miles causes a hindrance to the whole co:ist and checks the natural develop- / nient of this district. : A sum of £75,000 is included in the proposed loan of three millions, for completing the line through this district. This sum includes station buildings, also ballasting the formation now made about miles north of Patea, and completing • the last link to join at Hawera. " If this work has to stand still- till the loan money comes to hand in January next, there will be much disappointment in this district, where heavy traffic has been almost suspended during the wet periods of winter, on account of the boggy roads being almost impassable in places. We believe, however, that the work is to go on without waiting : for the loan money. The Government have a sum in hand from the* last loan which will suffice to carry on public works now in hand at the sameAata of: expenditure as during the past twelvemonths. The amount available a month ago for expenditure by the Pnblic Works Department was nearly one million pounds, this being reckoned, as the-amount to be spent during the current financial year ending March next. . By including this coast railway in the allotment of the new loan, it may appear that this work will have to wait until that loan is raised. We believe, on the contrary, that this mode of allotment is merely on paper, for the purpose of book-keeping; and that the Government intend to push on the works now in progress., and to the loah money for these works by spending cash in hand, and charging the outlay to the loan account. This is the usual mode of financing pnblic works.' The Manntahi-to-Hawera link ought to be contracted for within, four months from this date. If contracts are let by Chris tjaaasjr. the. Governmen c : will avoid some grumbling. ’ d We understand that the gravelling contract for the section from Patea bridge to Wqodville Station near Burke’s farm is ready to be given out, but :it appears (to be delayed till winter is over, as, this portion of the line is not wanted until the rails are laid from the sooth

up to Patea. line from the south has not been to Whehuakhm Station within the four months specified. But.it is to be hoped the delay beyond, that time will bp. very short. The four months have just expired, and the Station building is not ready for use. The engine now runs beyond the site of the Station, SO; that the delay in opening the line to public traffic is not due to Messrs Wilkie and Crawford. We suppose the stoppage of timber traffic has prevented the Station being finished. The station is not in a situation convenient to most settlers in the Whenuakura district, but in a choice between difficulties there cannot be complete satisfaction. The stoppage at Rangitikei has prevented timber coming through for completing the railway bridge at Whenuakurn so early as was expected. If a gravel bed be tapped by the line between the two rivers, it will be a great

gain to the district, and to the borough especially. At present the best supply seems to lie up the Patea river in situations available for punting down.