THE THAMES RAILWAY AND THE HAMILTON BRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1163, 9 December 1879, Page 2

THE THAMES RAILWAY AND THE HAMILTON BRIDGE.

The following letter was received late last night per electric telegraph from Wellington : —

Wellington, 9.32 _p.__r. Sib, — I have just seen a telegram published m the New Zealand Times, setting forth that the Waikato Times states that the Government have countermanded the railway bridge over the Waikato at Hamilton, and also that it is intended to divert the line to Taupiri. Sir, both these statements aro utterly untrue, and have been made without due inquiry m the proper quarter. In the first piece, no bridge was ordered by tho Grey Government from England, although promises were repeatedly nMe that ifc should be done, and — as Mr McMinn will testify — some of us were led to believe that ifc • actually had been ordered. This fact was indisputably proved by a question 'put by Mr Whyte early m the session. Mr Macandrew sullenly replied, "The bridge would be ordered when the House voted the money. I subsequently asked another question, having for its object the demonstration to the House that oiir money voted ab-eady for the bridge had been illegally spent to the tune of £52,000 m finding work for the unemployed at the Thames, jjut not only was the bridge not ordered from England by the late Government, but the necessary plans and specifications were not even prepared, showing an absolute want of intention to do anything m the matter m spite of all they said. These plans are being rapidly prepared now, and the matter will receive every attention. A s to the second rumour, that the line will go to Taupiri, this is fche third or fourth time this absurd rumour has been made, and I think I know tlie quarter whence it generally emanated. I can only say there is not a shadow of ground for it. Everybody and anybody who would give credence to it must first take m Mr Whyte and myself for a pair of fools, which we are not. F. A. Whitaker.