NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 266, 23 May 1888, Page 4

NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY.

\Vjkllin<;tox, Slay 21 A pki'UT vtiox consisting of Sir George Grey Messrs Thompson, Marchnnt, Peacock, Moat, Withy, Hobb^, and Goldie wailed upon the Minister of Public Works to day to ascertain fiom him whether it was likely that the hurvcyors would be in a position to report to the department which of the routes now being surveyed for the Northern Trunk line was most desirable and whether they would rcpoit upon the probability of the survey answering for the purposes of a road, if not suitable for a latlway. Mr Mitchelson in reply stated thai unless the House sat for four months ho feared the reports would not be in. Government had directly after House was prorogued sent out five sets of siuvoyors consisting in all of some thirty men with instructions to make a dotnilcd survey, They had to adopt this course because the Hying suney of the central route had proved so thoroughly untrustworthy that it was> not considered wise to run such j

a risk again. He feared fhafc it would take at least thirteen or torn U,en weeks yet before they could hope to receive the reports. With respect to the routes being available for roads he thought the AJhui route would. A report on that dhtiiot had been received (not of a detailed chauirter) showing' that a guide of one in n'fty could be obtained lor Uailway puipobc< with t»o tunnel; of about £ a mile each ; but he feaicd that a road could not be obtained on the Strattord route; but Mr Wealo;-, in whom the Kew Plymouth people, ho be)i<\{.d, had every confidence, was making a ,sitr\oy, and iF .Mich could be obtained 1-e 1) 'd no doubt but that it would. Mr MilehehoM wa-, .ilso asked whether, in the c\ent of no fm ther coutiact^ being let mi til these Miivevshad been . submitted to the decision u\ tin- Hou^e, the money boirowed for put poses of the Noith Ttunk Hue .'.hou'd be coiHoised, and fuither whether the numcy .Uivady illegally spent el.^cw hoie should be rofnndcd. Tn icply tho i\h"ni-(.ci stated Uiat he had been compelled lv couipleU, cci tain work-> undertaken by the lale Mi lisfcrv out of tl'i-- \oto which he i<n-u!<i<_J to lie uniairly taken ; but (hat m> ioii'^ as lie teuiatned JMin\-(ej >>: i'ublii; WoiicsnoIhinn iiioie -hould b(>!ak(n; andfuitliei, he would b( p»o ; >aiLfi to bim^ the matter bcfoie the (Jovonuucnt with a siiwMoihc amount-, all cad y taken b. m^ lefundcd. lie would ,-.iy in cnieln^io)) \,\,,i[ j> M>r>n athe i eports ot the mii\c')S wchm i_i\(.| b< would lay llieni btioio (he llou-e so that immediate action mighl be taken