THE RAILWAY DEVIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8100, 3 May 1906, Page 3

THE RAILWAY DEVIATION.

BEACH HOU'l'E TOO COSTLY. Mr E. M. Smith, M.H.R., has received the following reply frcm the Minister of Railways, dated April MOtli: —" With reference to the representations made by yourself, Hon. T Kelly, M.L.C.. and Mr W. T. Jennings, M.H.1!., regarding the JN ew Plymouth deviation and tho route that should be followed in constructing the same, 1 have the honour to inform you that on looking into the matter, I find that the cost of construction of the railway alon;; the coast route exceeds that ot' the line further inland by at least £111,(101), and lliere would always be a probability of the sea breaching the railway line if constructed on the coast route. The tact of the foreshore being a shelving beach would not do away with the necessity for protective works, or lessen the cost of construction of the latter to any great extent, and the experience of the Railway Department in connection with the cost of construction of the sea wall at New Plymouth reclamation shows this conclusively, The adoption of the coastal route for the railway might possibly prevent the erosion of the foreshore, but the protection of the foreshore is uot a matter which devolves upon the Railway Department, but is a local matter, and being in the interests of the people of New Plymouth, the cost of any works should be borne by the residents of the town themselves, and cannot be viewed in the light of a fair charge in connection with the construction of the railway. It has been definitely decided that the line will follow what is known as the " inland " route, and it is proposed to pass under Devon road, and it is also intended that all streets shall be crossed by means of bridges or subwavs over or under the railway. This will obviate the necessity for public level crossings, and will entirely remove all risk of accident to persons crossing the railway. ith regard to the subsequent erosion by sea in regard to the inland route, the tune may arrive when such a condition would have to be met. This, how ever, Mill not occur lor very many years, and when (lie time does arrive there is no doubt ihat the necessary steps will be taken to protect the interests of the Railway Department in the matter "