The Gorge Railway.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 224, 24 August 1883, Page 2

The Gorge Railway.

[Froo our Wellington Correspondent.] 1 I now forward you copy of letter sent to the Minister for Public Works, and 1 signed hy Messrs Wilson, Stevens, and heddon. The reply I will forward you so soon as.it: has been received. >-■■ . ■■■■'•■■■ August 21st, 1883: • To the Honorable the Minister' of Public Works, Wellington. SiR,--rln reference to, our inter vie.v» J p i f the 20th ms t., re. appropriation of a sum of money do make the line or railway through the Manawatu ville; We understand that £60,000 of the £200,000 scheduled' under" lfi The Three . Million Loan Act of 1882," for the constrnction of the WellingtonaNew Ply« mouth Railway, is appropriated thia year for the purpose of extending the"Ma9ter ton line only, and that it is impossible this year to appropriate any sum out of the loan for the construction of the Foxton* New -Plymouth line with .Woodville. We desire to bring under your notice that by the end of next year the Napier line will be finished as far as Tahoraite, and within 16 miles of Wood vilie j also, that within three! years from now tne WeilingtonManawatu Railway will m all probability ? be finished.' Inj ustice to the several portions of this Island interested m this matter, *we consider' thai the connectionof the West Coast, Napier, and Wellington is of the utmost; importance, and that the: construction to VSpodville. from : Tahoraite, as "ell as from the Fbxtdh-New Plymouth .Railway should be , done 'simultaneously. As the Wellihir.ton-Mani awatu Railway will be finished about the same time, the connection of the East and West ' Coast, with Wellington would be i made m the most speedy manner possible, ■ Beeing that the Mas terton- Woodville line cannot be completed for several years. We would, therefore, urge yoti to bring these matters before the Cabinet, m order that they may receive serious consideration, with a view of having appropriations i made at the earliest possible* date, for the construction of the Manawatu Gorge portion of the Wellington-New Plymouth Railway out of the present loan. — We have the honor, Sir, to remain your obedient servants; ~ ■ John Stevens, I •,.:?■"■. JJ. J. Seddoit.' I ,■.;,,!„■ J. G. WIMOWi i >\\ I Understand that Mr Seddon's signature is attached to the-memoran-duu on the distinct understanding that nothing therein contained shall be construed or read to the prejudice l of the construction' of the line from Palmerston via the G-orge to Woodville. 1 hear that Mr rVilson is strongly m favour, of Bunny thorpej Mr bterens goes for the nbarest practical point, and is indefinite; but Mr Seddon argues m favour of Palmereton, and so suit Manawatu and Wellington Bailway connection^ and also as being the wishes' of those m whose interests they are acting. However, the letter explains the position. : ' '■<]■'■'■■ fi >' - s - '';'