The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 858, 7 September 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1871.

The papers relating to the construction of railways in New Zealand, which have been recently presented to the House, contain the correspondence which has passed between the Colonial Government and Home contractors, showing the terms upon which the latter would be disposed to undertake the construction of such lines of railway as might be approved of by the Assembly. A perusal of the correspondence enables an insight to be gained into the character of the works likely to be initiated, and their probable .cost. Captain Audley Coote, >who is associated with a number of •capitalists at home, proposed to the •Government to construct various lines, having a total length' of 550£ miles, for*the sum of £2,694,000. In the North Island there were to be constructed 399 .j miles of railway, and in the South Island 151 miles. The terms upon which it was offered to construct, maintain, and open the railway for public traffic, were —that the Government guarantee the payment of interest at the rate of 5\ per cent, per annum, for a period of thirty-five years from the opening of the- line for traffic; the company binding themselves to divide with the Colonial Government the met profit realized beyond 7 per cent, on the amount of capital expended. These offers, it appears, were seriously considered by the Government until some doubt was felt as to the extent to which Captain Coote, was authorised to act in behalf of the capitalists, representing the Tasmanian Main Line Railway Company; and Mr Vogel was then communicated with upon the subject. It appears that the Colonial Treasurer made enquiry, but was unable to discover that Captain Coote had any power in the matter of railway construction, beyond that of making provisional arrangements, which might or might not be sanctioned by his friends in London. Shortly after the receipt of this the negotiations with Captain Coote were brought to an abrupt ternination, the latter being informed that the Government were making arrangements whtch precluded their entertaining his proposals. An offer was also submitted early in the present year, on behalf of an association formed in {Melbourne, for the purpose of constructing railways according to the system lately perfected l-y Mr Fell, the engineer of the Mount Cenis Railway. The terms offered were—eash payments—a contribution of land —or, a government gurantee of certain annual interest. These proposals were also declined, although as a proof of bona fides, the association offered to construct, at their own expense, risk, and responsibility, in any locality they might be directed to, a section of railway three or four miles in length, in order that the qualifications and ca pacities of their system might be fully tested before adopted. Mr Fell's system of.railways is thus described : ■" The chief deviation of this principle from the ordinary system consists in the elevation of the permanent way from three to four feet above the surface of the ground, supported by piles of timber firmly fixed, and of adequate strength. The 'permanent way itself is formed by a continuous beam of timber placed upon the piles, and of a size sufficient to carry two lines of rails eighteen inches apart on the surface, and one line of guide rails on each aido.of its two sides, twelve inches below the upper surface, distances which not only correspond with but also yield the full carrying power and safety of a gauge of 3 feet 6 inches on. ordinary railways. Accidents will be rendered almost impossible with trains I

carrying 100 tons, exclusive of the weight of engines and carriages, and a speed of twenty miles per hour will be obtained with ease." The average coat of a first-class line, after the above system, including rails, but excluding rolling stock, was guaranteed not to exceed the sum of £2500 per mile. Up to June 30th, of the current year, contracts, representing the sum of £74 L 7, had been enteredintoforthe survey of railways under the " Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870." This sum was divided amongst the various provinces as follows:—Auckland, a line from Auckland to Waikato, forty mileß, £1,000; Wellington, 143 miles of railway fro» the capital to Masterton, £1987; Nelson, for a line to Foxhill, 22 miles, £264 ; Canterbury, 200 miles of railway, at a little over £5 10s pur mile, £llO3, in addi. tion to £179 13s 4d, to defray the expense of borings for the "Waitaki bridge; Otago, 145 miles, £2884. Contracts have also been let For the construction of three sections, six miles, of the Southern Trunk line, Otago, the sum being £25,325.