WAIKATO RAILWAY.

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 456, 20 April 1875, Page 2

WAIKATO RAILWAY.

The lino to Mercer will be completed in about a fortnight from this date , whether it will be opened at that time or not is, however, very questionable. Rumour states that an action, involving no less a sum than £80,000, is pending. We trust that the parties « ill not go to law over the matter if, by mutual forbearance an amicable arrangement is possible, ifc would be much more satisfactory to see a few miles of railway made r than the sum required to do the work squandered in the law courts. The line between Mercer and Ngaruawahia is progressing favourably ; the Engineer Volunteer Militia are giving every satisfaction to the professional men who have the superintendence of the work, the same n:ay be said with equal justice of the parties working between Ngaruawahia and Hamilton. The men employed on this work are building huts, in their own time, for winter quarters ; there will be plenty of work on each side of their " permanent" camp to keep them empJoyed through the winter. The biidge across the river at Ngaruawahia is being rapidly proceeded with. The temporary bridge is across as far as it is the intention of Mr Taylor to carry it at present. Several of the cylinders are on the ground, and the putting of them in position will be commenced this week. A considerable amount of the work on the approaches has been done, and there is now little doubt, unless some unforseeu j accident takes place, that it will be opened for traffic within the contract time. We believe that it has been decided not to attempt to carry the formation of the line this winter beyond the Hamilton gully. Provided rails and sleepers can be brought to the spot in time, there is nothing to prevent the railway being finished to Ngaruawahia by Christmas next, and to Hamilton by June 1876. The opening of the railway to Ngaruawahia will be a great day for the Waikato, in fact, from that day the first fair opportunity the settlers in this district have had of doing justice to themselves or the colony may be dated. Rapid and cheap communication is the one thing necessary to make the Waikato tlic district of the Auckland Province.