EVENING SITTING.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 1919, 23 October 1884, Page 2

EVENING SITTING.

Thk House resumed at 7.30. The Hon. the Minister for Public Worke moved the adoption of the report on the North Island Main Trunk Railway, and said he intended to move an addition that the central route be adopted, subject to any deviation in detail which might be found advisable and nfeeessary during the construction of the line. The committee, he said, had approached the question with determination, and had made full enquiry into each route. They had .thoroughly sifted the evidence taken, and had come to a decision which they thought would be to the best interests of the colony. Referring to the Stratford route, he contended that the land was far more brokeri than the central line, and it wasnot of a 'favourable nature for settlements The' Stratford route had many disadvantages^ condemn •it, and some of the grades were steep, being lin 25, liv 27, 1 in 40, and lin 45. Looking at the central route and the nature of ,the land in the vicinity, .the" .committee could, he submitted,' have come-to no other concluskji than 'they did. One of the effects of th.U> route w.fta^hat. Napier would in , time be 'broug^'inlb' enap , communication' wishV Auckland 4 as -^ well as Wellington; .- As r "far * "as the'l- com mittee had been i able to judge" the cost of carrying out,the .construction , of , .the line would be a little uridef j| The reports of the'officers of f 'tne Survey-Depart-ment and others showed that thtf carrying ou£ of $ho line - recommended, by th.c com/;

mittee would open up splendid land along the route, and also branch roads*, etc. Ho mo\od the motion mentioned above. Mr Richaidson was inaudible in the gallery. Mr Monfceromeryj one of the committee and who differed from them in their report, entered into a lengthy speech, explaining his reasons for favouring the Stratford route. He had carefully gone through the evidence, and taking that ofMr Cussen's and Capt. Noithcroft, who knew the land which the central route would traverse, had come to the conclusion there was large portion of it on both east and went sides of the line that was not suitable for settlement ; also of the timber traffic was to come to Wellington, it would bo brought the distance of 288 miles. He next referred to the Stratford r mte, and quoted evidence to show that the laud, for the first so miles was remarkably well adapted for settlement ; they then had 40 miles of exceedingly broken country, after which it became of good nature again. The central line would cost £1,203,000 while the Stratford route would cost £970,000. He also considered that it had always been intended the line should go by way of Tar.maki. When Mr Macandlew was Minister of> Public Works, the carrying out of the line was sanctioned by the House, and it was then decided to take it via Taranaki, Whichever line the House adopted, he hoped it would also decide how the land to the north of the Mokau was to be settled. I)r Newman strongly opposed the Central route. Mr W. F. Buckland supported the Stratfoi d route. Mr Fergus, one of the Committee, said that the line fiom Marton to Te Awamutu was the easiest one, and the whole of the bridges alone the line would not cost more than £250,000. The question in deciding the route for the line was not whether Auckland, New Plymouth or Wellington would be benefited, but which was of the greatest interest to the colony. One of the facts which helped the Committee in coming to a decision 'was that by adopting and constt noting the central i out e the Maori difficulty would be practically settled. Mr Peacocke favoured the Stratford route. Sir George Grey moved as an amend ment, " That the word " Central" be struck out, with the view of adding the word " .Stratford." Wellington, he argued, was to be connected with Napier and New Plymouth, with two large livers of commeice, by means of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway. Should the Wellington members now combine and isolate Auckland from those towns ? The lino via Stratford had been promised, and no promise made by Parliament should be broken without some good cause being shown. He argued at length that the Stiatford route would be most beneficial, and the country (over which he had been several times) was very good for settlement. Major Atkinson thought both lines would be made before very long. It was said that if the Sti.itfoid mute was now cnnstiucted pressuie would be brought to bear foi the construction of the central line. He contended that if the latter line was carried on theio would bo ten times the amount of piessure to have the Stratfoid line constiuctcd. He could not see the necessity for expending a large amount of money at present If the line, as recommended, was made, where was the traffic to come from for years ? He asked why were they making this line ? If it was to open up land, then they should accept the Stratford route, as wheie was better land to be found than in Wanganni and Taranaki ? The Premier denied that theie was ever a line from Te Awamutu to T.uanaki sanctioned by Parliament. What Government had pledged themselves to in the Governor's Speech was the appointment of a committee to enquire into the best route. The central route was of easy grade, and was, in time, 55 hours shorter than the other line. (Left Sitting.)