Thames-Te Aroha Railway.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 387, 24 July 1889, Page 8

Thames-Te Aroha Railway.

The following letter from Mr W. Fraser, M.H.R. bus been received by Mr W. 'Carpenter, Mayor of Thames :—: — "Wellington, Ist July, 1889. "Sip m—l m — I have the honour to inform you that ) have had several interviews with the "Honorable Mr Mitchelson, Minister of Public Works, in reference to the intentions of Government with regard to this work. "He has kindly permitted me to see his private report on it to the Cabinet ; also the report of the BaiVay Commissioners, and the proposed Public Works Statement and Estimates, from -which, I regiet to say, as I hud telegraphed to you, notwithstanding the promises made, the Government do not intend to do anything for our Bail way. " It is only right to Mr Milchelson to state that his report is a fair one, pointing out the -wishes of the local bodies along the line, that the money voted is sufficient to complete the line to Paeroa, or complete the f ormartoa to Te Aroha, and that if any further money is "borrowed the line should be completed; '•The report of the Commissioners, however, states that it really consists of a narrow -strip between the hills and the river Thames < — there not being sufficient land to support a raihvav, — that the aveiage number of passen^ gers ly coa'h is not mo c than three or four daily, thab 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 wero completed to Te Aroha, und that the mal ing of ! this line would divert a partion of the traffic j from existing lines, thereby diminishing their profits •'There has been expended on the railway up to 31st March, £60,094. There is now in hand £35,323, less liabilities of £350, anrl the nni^unt ox the contract ioi drains, now adver tised. " There are sufficient rails available to lay the line to Puriri ; and to complete the line and provide i oiling stock and equip the line fit to run, h would lake, in addition to the sum in hand, £(55,000. " Now, what we have to consider is, that the <]i-j\ei urneut are willing to expend the £.35,323 as the local bodies or any syndicate may direct, and are willing to hand the whole over, ongiving a saiisfucto'ryguaranteetocomplete and work the linej , ' , " ISTow, the question is' whether a railway Avith £60,095 alieady ' expended on it, and in hand Jc35.:{'23, making id atf- L 95.418, and ■which would only take to complete L65,C00, is iiot a marketable commodity. ! '■ I have the honour to he, " Sir;' /, , t >> ■t ; ■ ** Your iaoht obedient servant,