RAILWAY EXTENSION INTO HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 941, 4 July 1878, Page 2

RAILWAY EXTENSION INTO HAMILTON.

The best ofall remedies for the almost impassible state of the road between Hamilton and the railway station, which is Decoming a grievous scanis likely, we learn, t© be applied by the Government, namely the extension of a branch line into Hamilton. Some months ago, we were aware that a scheme had been devised, and G. Sandes, for the laying of a branch that data had been prepared by Mr T. railway or tramway from the station through the centre of the town of Hamilton to some point upon the river where a landing place and wharf should be constructed. We now learn that some little time smce, previous to the arrival of the Minster for Public Works in Auckland the other flay, Mr Sandes had forwur.ied a sketch plan of his scheme, wi.h a report showing its practicability and usefulness, to the authorities in Auckland. This, wo s seen by Mr Macandrew, the Minister for Public Works, and the Eugineer-in-Chief, then in Auckland, and so highly did

they think of it Unit plana and other daia were sent for, which have been since furnished by Mr Sandes. The matter is now being taken into surio.us'' consideration, and as the cost of construction would be very light and the profit arising from it considerable, and, what is more, immediate, the matter will in all probability receive favorable attention. Indeed, since this article was written, the Mayor of Hamilton has informed us tlmt Mr Macandrew expressed himself favorably in regard to the proposed extension to the Mayor when in Auckland last week. The distance from the railway staliou at Hamilton to the point where Victoria-street touches the Waikato river is just one mile and sixty chains, and the only cutting upon it—and there a good workable grade could be obtained—is opposite the Public Works Office, on the hill above the church. Victoriastreet touches upon the river somewhere opposite to Mr Calderwood's acre, and there is ample foreshore reserve there (and lower down, if desired) fora station yard and the provision for all necessary shunts, goo Is' stores «fec„ At this point it is proposed that a wharf should be run out a short distance into the srteam at which steamers could load cargo for any part of the river. The advantages to the railway as well as to the town are patent. At present the railway cannot compete with the river traffic The trouble and cost of getting up goods Irom the railway station is a loss of some hundreds of pounds worth of freiglit monthly" in Hamilton alone to the railway, shippers preferring to import direct by boat into the heart of the town. Were such extension established, the goods for Hamilton need not necessariliy be conveyed so far as the river terminus, but might be discharged say at a receiviug house erected oo the Borough property on which the Council Chambers are erected or some other equally convenient central position. But it is not alone the Hamilton freight that the railway authorities would thus secure. Goods for Cam- - bridge are nov either put on board the steamers at Mercer, or at farthest at Newcastle. Extend the line through Hamilton to the river, as proposed, and the railway authorities would command the whole of the traffic, and, in addition, the freight of some twelve miles further carriage between Newcastle and the river. This would be a great boon to Cambridge. It would pay a steamer well to run daily between the river terminus at Hamilton, where now there is only tri-weekly comraunioation, andinßtead of goods being two and sometimes three days upon the road, they might be received in Cambridge within twelve hours of being despatched from Auckland. The cost of the extsnsion would be comparatively light. Traversing the highway the entire distance there would be no expenditure on land purahase. The line is a level one with the exception of the last twenty-five chains, the cutting above mentioned. Of the whole distance more than half, or eighty chaius, would form a portion of the permanent line from the Thames. As far as material goes the railway department has a sufficiency of sleepers lying in Auckland and of light 401b rails quite strong enough to carry the traffic on a branch line such as this. The whole work could be completed within two months or three months of being started.