Thames-Te Aroha Railway.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 384, 13 July 1889, Page 2

Thames-Te Aroha Railway.

The following letter from Mr W. Fraser, M.H.R, has been received by Mr W. Carpenter, Mayor of Tkames :-— ••Wellington, lat July, 1889. "Sib, — I' have the honour to inform yott that \ have had several interrievri with the Honorable Mr Mitohelson, Minister of .Public , Works, in" reference' to the intentions of ; <$overi*ment with regard t6 this work. ' { ' 14 He has kindly permitted me to see hfa private report on it to the Cabinet ; also the report of me Rai'way Conftnissioners} and the " * proposed Public Works Statement and Estimates, from' which, 'I regret 1 to say,' as I haa telegraphed) $o you, notwithstanding. the promises made, the (government do not intend 'to* do anything for our Railway, " It is only right to Mr Mitohohon to state , that Mb report fe a fair one, pointing out the wishes 6! the local bodies along the line, that the money voted ijt sufficient to complete the line to Paie*oa,, 9* complete the formation to Te Aroha, and that Jif any further money is borrowed the line- shoujd 1 be completed; • "-The report of th«. Commissioners, how* eves, states that . it rea%- consists of a narrow strip between the hills a°nd the river Thames —there not being sufficient land to support a. railway, — that the average number of passengers, by coach, is. not more, thai* three or four daily* that there are good roads, and great stress is laid on the water- carriage, that would not pay working expenses if oompleted to Paeroa, nor even if it .were completed to Te Aroha, and. that the making of this line would divert a partion of the traffic, from existing lines, thereby diminishing their profits. ''There has been expended on the railway . up to 31st 'March, £60,094 Therrfis now in hand £35,323, less liabilities of and the. , . amount of the cofltrqpt,fs* drains now adver- v " The.Ee are- efficient Huii available to laythe ljn«j to Puriri ; and ta complete the line and; provide stock; and equip, the line., fit to. PRnj it \ROuld take,. i$ ad^itio^ to the sum. in hand, £65,000. " No% what we^have to cons^er i», that theGoyemment are w'ljing to expend the £35,323; as the local bodiea or any syndicate may direct, and are willing to. hand »hV whole, over, oi>giririg a satisfactory gu%?not«e^ to complete and lfovk the line, "Now, the question $& whether a railway with £60,095 already expended 1 on it* and in. hand £35,323, making in all L 95.418, and which would only take to complete L65,C00 X i ia not a marketable commodity*. I " I have the hcfnour to be", M Your most obedient servant, "W. F^ W n.^