§ MR. CHARLES BILL (Staffordshire, Leek)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made during the past year with the Sierra Leone Railway; and what time is likely to elapse before any portion of the line is open for traffic?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINThis work was commenced at the end of 1895. Since then the terminal depôt at Freetown, with landing pier, workshops, and quarters, has been completed, 21 miles of the line have been surveyed, the 921 earthworks and bridges for a length of 4¾ miles have been finished, and the permanent way laid for three miles. The unfavourable climatic conditions make it difficult to form estimates of progress, but it is expected that a considerable section of the railway will be open for traffic in June, 1898.