the inability of the commission in its final report to make an unequivocal recommendation as to the best option for connecting the port to the plains resulted in plans for the railway to be temporarily suspended. this only exacerbated the problem to the point where, in 1858, superintendent william sefton moorhouse prevailed upon the provincial council to consider the matter again. in response, the council set aside £4,000 to engage the services of an engineer and to seek tenders from reputable engineering firms that may be interested in the project.