Thames-Te Aroha Railway.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 385, 17 July 1889, Page 8

Thames-Te Aroha Railway.

The following letter from Mr W. Fraaer, M.H.R. ha<? been received by Mr W. Carpenter, Mayor of Tbames :—: — 5f "Wellington, Ist July, 1889. '^"Sic, — I have the honour to inform you that 1 have had several interviews with the Honorable Mr Mitchelson, Minister of Public Works, in reference to the intentions of Government with regard to thi3 work. "He has kindly permitted me to see his private report on ifc to the Cab : nefc ; also the report of the Ba^way Commissioners, and the proposed Public Works Statement and Estimutes, from which, I regret to say, as I had telegraphed to you, notwithstanding the promises made, the Government do not intend to do anything for our Railway, " It is only right to Mr Mitchelson to state that his report is a fnir one, pointing out the ■wishes of the local Vo lies along the line, that the money voted is sufficient to complete the line <o Paeroa, or complete the formation to Te Aroha, and that '.if uny further* money is borrowed the line should be completed; " The report of the Commissioners, how-* ever, states that it really consists of a narrow strip between the hills and the river Thames — there not being sufficient land to support a railway, — that the average number of passengers by coach is not mo c than 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 completed 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 Hne3, thereby diminishing their profits. •'There has been expended on theiailway up to 31st March, £60,094. There is now in hand £35,323, less liabilities of £350, and the amount of the contract fox drains now advertißed. " There are sufficient rails available to lay the line to Pnriri ; and to complete the line and provide rolling stock and equip the lino fit to run, it would take, in addition to the gum in hand, £65,000. " Now, what we have to consider is, that the Government are willing to expend the £35,323 as the local bodies or any syndicate may direct, and are willing to hand the whole over, on giving a sal isfactory guarantee to complete and work the line, " Now, the question is whether a railway with £60,095 already expended on it, and in hand £35,323, making in all L 95.418, and which would only take to complete L65,C00, is not a marketable commodity. " I have the honour to be, "Sr, " Your most, obedient servm 1 ", "W. iiLSsW