MANUTAHI-HAWERA RAILWAY.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1027, 27 April 1883, Page 3

MANUTAHI-HAWERA RAILWAY.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, April 26. A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce waited upon the Minister for Public Works to-day, to urge the completion of the Manutahi-Hawera section of the West Coast railway. The depu- ‘ tation was introduced by Mr Levin, who said their object was to impress upon the Government the importance of connecting the link between Hawera and Manutahi, which was of very great importance to Wellington, as well as to the whole of the North Island. Trade would be very largely stimulated by it. Mr Harcourt, Chairman of the Chamber, said the deputation had been appointed to wait on the Government to point out the necessity there was for pushing on this railway with more energy than had hitherto been displayed. The Chamber did not look upon this from a local point of view, but as being one of main lines of importance to the colony. The Hon. Mr Johnston said the gap between Waverley and Hawera is about .25 miles. Two contracts were entered into about this time last year, and Parliament was asked to vote a sum of £IOO,OOO, an enormous sum for : a single gap. The two contracts, each about eight and a half miles, will be completed at the end of May, and there wil] still remain a gap of about ten and miles. It will take a vote of «50,000 or, £60,000 to finish the gap, \nd tenders will come in to-morrow. He did not feel conscious, therefore, of any remissness on the part of the Government. After some further conversation, Mr Johnston assured the deputation that the Government would bring the line to a termination with the utmost possible speed, and that the Ministry would ask for an appropriation next session to complete it.