DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 7, 8 May 1915, Page 7

DOMINION NEWS.

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. I'ku Press Associaii-n. Dunedin, May 7. The Hon. W. Frasor, Minister of Public Works, in speaking to a deputation to-night, made reference to the construction of light railways m the Dominion. The line that was being constructed between Clyde and Cromwell, he said, was a new kind of line. When he suggested it some time ago to one or two of his engineers, very capable men, they fell in with it, mid' what had been done with the lino beyond Clyde had really exceeded his anticipations. No one who had travelled on the road only six months ago 'had any expectation that by this time jhe would find the earth works so far 'on, and a portion of the line actually ready, for anything like the money he had been called on to expend on it. It .seemed to him that there was no reason why that class of line should not be extended in any part of the country. The country could not afford to build lines thta cost £IO,OOO or £15,000 a mile. It could do double or treble the work if it could construct lines for tliree or four thousand p-unds a mile. He, did not know what the Clyde-Cromwell line would cost, but he believed it would be an object lesson in connection with railway construction in New Zealand.

B!C OPIUM HAUL.

Auckland, May 7. What is probably the biggest haul of opium ever made in New Zealand 'was effected by the Auckland Customs j officials when the steamer Invertay arrived from New York todav. '

| It is stated that, although special vigilance was exercised on the arrival : of the vessel owing to the fact that she had 19 Chinese working below in the engine room, there was nothing to cause suspicion on a preliminary examination being made. Subsequent'ly. the Customs officers tore up the 'planking of the coal bunkers and I found a large quantity of opium stowled away. Altogether, 437 tins were 'brought out, and it is estimated that [the value of the seizure is at least I £IOOO. But for the fact that the coal bunkers were empty when the vessel arrived in port, it is probable that the 'discovery would not have been made. I The Tnvertay was temporarily held jup off Cape Colville, having exhausted her coal, and a fresh supply had to lie sent out yesterday to enable her to come into harbor.