THAMES AND WAIKATO RAILWAY

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 278, 21 February 1874, Page 2

THAMES AND WAIKATO RAILWAY

Thk Hon Mr Vogol, in reply to an influential deputation that waitH upon him in Auckland, said — Tlmt lie liad not come to any final conclusion on the natter, although there wore «<otne points upon which he had made up his mind. He wwln'U the deputation to understand that anything lie might saj to them would not prejudice the consideration of this question by the Government. He would take care that the*e representations and returns should be laid before the Government. If desired, he would Bay a few words upon the subject. IL- admitted the force of some of the argumonU adduced. Itwn* aquation whether the construction of the railwuj would n>t mateiially ahect the development of the Goldfields. It was smd t lint the railway would give employment to our immigrant b, but it was difficult to get a sufficient number of immigrants into the country to satisfy the demands for labour. It was to bo presumed that this stutp of affairs would not long exist; but the immigrants now coming totho colouy were being quickly absorbed. The line would, he had no doubt, bo a desirable one to construct at some futurn time. It was a question, however, whethei it would not be premature to authorise its construction at pi esent. The Government were taking in hand no railways without the concurrence of landowners, and theie might or might not be native difficulties in the way of the construction of the line in question If even nat ive obstacles were overoome, there are other questions to be taken into consideration, viz. : — There were more important lines to be constructed, and it was probable that the Imp they were advocating would retard their completion. The railways at present undertaken by the Government were considered as of primary importance. The Auckland and Wniktto railway and itsrxtension south notably so. He could not say whether the line would go by way of Taronnki or by the cast side of the island. It would, perbnps, have been better had the Kaipara railway never have been undertaken ; but there was a great deal of popular sympathy brought to bear on the question, and it was done without duo investigation. That line would be useless unless con - nected with Auckland, and the Government had determined to extend it, to Auckland m order to lurm a nucleus of a line to the north of Auckland. They would, without the line they desired should be constructed, have ea»y communication with Waikatc, viz., the railway from Waikato to Auckland, and good water-carriage between the latter place aud the Thames. It was not a part of the Government policy to make back roads between places already accessible to ciich other. Even in Gieat Britain they had not made railways between places whero direct communication already existed. The object of the Government in making railways was to connect districts wholly separated from each other. The Tramway Act would, no doubt, give local bodies ample opportunity of constructing the line. Speaking of fertile land, it should be in the hands of those who should construct the railway. A quarter of a million had been sot opart for land purchase, a portion of which would be available He pointed out that it was the intention of the Government not to construct branch linei until mam anas were completed. He thought that with regard to the supplj oi food to the Thames there wag sufficient good land in the neighbourhood of that town to supply their wants in that respect. He should like to see tho Waikato exporting, but not to the Thames, that which they could grow themselves. They had splendid riTer navigation, and the river flowed through good land. He assursd them tint the Government were doing all in their power to acquire land to open up the country.