The Railway—Ministers' Reply.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4288, 28 September 1882, Page 2

The Railway—Ministers' Reply.

[By Telegbaph.] (FBOM OUR OWN COBKBPONDENT;)

Wellington, Yesterday,

In reply to communications sent by Mr Sheehan to the Minister of Public Works re the Thames Railway proposal, the following reply has been received:— Ministers acknowledge receipt of the letter in which Mr Sheehan brings under notice of Government the desire of the Thames County Council and the local boards that advantage should be taken of the presence in the colony of representatives of English capital to construct the railway from Te Kopu lo Te Aroha under the Eailway Construction Acts, and his request that upon being satisfied with the financial ability of the proposers the Government will endeavor to obtain Parliament's sanction to a provisional agreement. In reply, the Minister states that although the construction pf the line from Thames to Te Aroha jias bean authorised by Parliament, yet Government, having before them the necessity for applying such of their million loan ns was available for railways to the continuation of • those works most needed did not see their way to appropriate more than a small sum for the completion of the section from Grahamstown to Te Kopu. , Under these circumstances Government is' prepared to give every consideration to such proposals. Instructions have also been given to the department to furnish every information as to the length of the line and other details in the hands of the Government.

Mr Sheehan, fwho hsavesffor the north by the end of this week has arranged to meet the agents for the English company at Cambridge in about a fortnight, from whence they .will interview the deputation appointed by the Thames Couuly Council, proceeding.along the proposed route to the Thames. ;1 i

The following telegram was received by the Town Clerk-frbm Mr Shcehan this morning:—

" Wellington.Sept., 27.

"The following reply re railway pro-posals-was received from the^Minister: of Public Works last night too late to wire :j ' I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter in .which you bring under the notice of'the Government the desire.of the Thames Borough and County Council and, other local Bodies that advantage should be taken! of the presence in the colony of certain representatives of 'English capital 1 to, construct the proposed rail way" from Kopu to Te Aroha under the Railway Construction Acts, and request that on being satisfied with the financial ability of the proposers,- the Government will endeavor to obtain Parliamentary sanction for any provisional agreement that those proposers and the Government may enter into. -In reply I.beg to state that although the construction of the lines from Thames to Te Aroba bas been authorised by Parliament, yet Government having before them the necessity for applying so much of the threa million loan as was available forrailway ;onstructibn ' o the continuation of those works which were most needed, did not see their way to appropriate more than a small sum for the completion'of the' section Grahamstown to Te Kopu. Tinder these circumstances I have tojipfbrm you that Government is prepaved ti give every considera* tion to a proposal for the construction of the line to Te Aroha'by a company competent to cany out the work, if such a proposal she... submitted to them. lAs requested,! have given direction that the information you ask for as fa the length of the line, and other details be supplied to you.' Will take steps to-day to obtain information referred to, and will forward to you.—John Sheehan."