OTAGO RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 93, 15 May 1909, Page 5

OTAGO RAILWAYS.

A XEW ROUTE PItOPOSED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Balciutha, East Night. As a result of the interest stirred up in matters of railway construction in Otago by the stoppage of the v LawrenceRoxburgh railway construction works, a very large and influential meeting was held at Balciutha tonight to urge upon the Government the advisability of building the railway up to Clutha Valley and to the Tuapeka mouth, and further if possible. It was pointed out that the railway by following this route would give a hundred thousand acres of splendid agricultural" and pastoral land in the Clntha Valley railway facilities, and would also provide a ready outlet for'produce from that large and fertile Central Otago district, of which Roxburgh is the centre, it was urged in favor Of this railway that there were absolutely no engineering difficulties to cncounter as in the other routes proposed for the railway in the direction of Boxburgh, for by following the fertile valley of the Clutha river it could reach the goal over comparatively level country and on an easy grade. It was stated" that the ferry service at present on the Clntha was obsolete and inconvenient, and that the proceeds of the endowment now devoted to the assistance of the ferry might be set against the cost of the railway. Arrangements were made for a strong deputation to wait upon the members of the Cabinet at the winter show at Dunedin shortly in connection with the proposed railway, and a league, thoroughly representative of the district, and with the Mayor of Balciutha as president, was formed to urge upon the residents and the Government the necessity of constructing a railway np the Clutha Valley.