THE MOUNT SOMERS RAILWAY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 782, 1 November 1882, Page 2

THE MOUNT SOMERS RAILWAY.

To th)e Editor. Sir, —Referring to your leader of the 27th inst., on the meeting lately held in the Town Hall, about the Mount Somers line extension, I shall bo much obliged if you will allow me to make a few comments thereon. You commence by depicting the chagrin of the “agitation* mongers ” (which, by the way, is not a very polite appellation) at not being able to cross-examine Mr Wright owing to his absence. We were no doubt disappointed at not meeting Mr Wright, but had he been there, I have not the slightest doubt but that he would have been treated with all due courtesy. It is possible ho might have been asked a few civil questions ; but there was no intention whatever of anything beyond this. I believe the general opinion here is that Mr Wright is a very good representative, but that he has allowed his judgment to be warped in this matter by certain considerations. It is possible that a few may be endeavoring to use this agitation for political purposes, but every public question is liable to the same thing. There are a few statements in your leader that are not quite correct, and as I do not imagine you wish to oppose us unfairly, I shall be glad if you will allow me to contradict them. First : You say it would take at least L 25,000 to carry the line across the river. No doubt we shall soon have reliable information on this point, and the amount required I have good reason to believe will be very much less. Second ; You say tint if the line is taken across the river, it cannot be extended beyond the Mount Somers township. Against this I may sta l c that the Government has been petitioned to carry the line across the Ashburton river at such a point as will best serve the interests of the Mount Somers and Alford Forest districts, and it is quite possible to do this and to extend the lino to Alford Forest or anywhere else. Third : You say that you have been informed that the most valuable building stone is found on the south side of the river. As lam personally interested in the stone, I will only say that at the late Christchurch Exhibition Samples from both north and south were shown. The stone from the north was placed second only to the Castle Hill stone (which is practically out of the market owing to difficulty in ortage), whilst four samples were placed higher than the stone from the south side. Fourth: Vourmost glaring mistake, however, is in saying that the County Council recommended the present line. The fact is, they recommended Triphook’s line, which is the one we have always wanted. In conclusion, you pat Mr Purnell on the back for advising us not to make it a political question. The advice was no doubt good, and had he advised us not to burn the Hall down after the meeting, it would have been equally good and equally unnecessary.— I am, etc., A. Edward Peache. Mount Somers, Oct. 28.