✨ Railway Construction Estimates
10,000 0 0
1st Year, 6 per cent. on £20,000 ... 1,200 0 0
2nd Year, 6 per cent. on £50,000 ... 3,000 0 0
Total to be met by Vote from Revenues of Province ... 4,200 0 0
3rd Year, Interest on £60,000, at 6 per cent. ... 3,600 0 0
Sinking Fund, at 2 per cent. ... 1,200 0 0
Total to be defrayed from Traffic Receipts ... 4,800 0 0
Mr. A. Dobson, C.E., having given in his estimates of the first cost and annual working
expenses, together with an estimate of anticipated receipts, was examined by His
Honour the Superintendent:
Q. Are the estimates you have given in
here sufficient in amount to carry out the
works, including rolling stock?
A. I consider the estimates sufficient.
Q. And these works, then, can be com
pleted in accordance with your estimates?
A. Provided sufficient care is taken to
furnish nothing but what is requisite for
the requirements of the country.
Q. Do you think there will be any en
gineering difficulty on the line?
A. I think not. The only doubtful
points being the cutting at the saddle.
Q. What are your doubts concerning
the saddle?
A. Merely the nature of the rock to be
encountered, as regards expense.
Q. Were the estimates made by a careful
examination on the ground?
A. It was priced on the ground; the
quantities were taken from the section.
Q. Have your estimates been made by a
detailed calculation?
A. Yes, they have.
Q. Have you read the report taken from
the examination of the Canterbury line?
A. Yes, I have.
Q. Does your calculation upon the Picton
and Wairau line lead you to suppose it a
more paying line than the Canterbury?
A. It does, in proportion to the nature
of the district. It shows a larger revenue
in proportion to the work to be executed.
Q. In looking through the evidence of
the Canterbury line, it shows the saving
to be only 5s. per ton more than by water.
A. Only 5s. per ton.
Q. What would be the difference be
tween the road and railway traffic here, by
the ton?
A. It depends upon the class of traffic.
I do not know how much if the road were
more perfect.
Q. In the case of timber, what would be
the cost from Halfway, per 1,000 feet,
delivered, either way?
A. The present price charged from the
Bush to Blenheim, a distance of from two
to three miles, is 2s. to 3s. per 100.
Cross-examined by Mr. Godfrey:
Q. What amount of the earthwork would
have to be placed upon wheeled carriages
for removal?
A. About 50,000 yards would have to
be moved on trucks on temporary rails.
Q. Cannot that material, at a little
extra expense, be made available to re
claim land in Picton harbour, ...
A. Yes; and part of it will be available
towards wharf accommodation; the greater
portion of the remainder of the earthwork
will be required for the embankments. The
10,000 yards of rock, at the saddle, which
is most conveniently situated for bringing to
the town, will be required for ballast, or at
least the greater portion of it.
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Marlborough Provincial Gazette 1861, No 17
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏗️
Estimates and Evidence for Picton and Wairau Railway
(continued from previous page)
🏗️ Infrastructure & Public Works17 May 1861
Railway, Construction, Estimates, Picton, Wairau, Marlborough
- A. Dobson (Mr.), Provided estimates and evidence
- Godfrey (Mr.), Cross-examined witness
- His Honour the Superintendent