ALFORD FOREST.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 824, 21 December 1882, Page 2

ALFORD FOREST.

[prom our own correspondent.] Springburn, Dec.’ 18. •

Prom the first and at all times I have 1 strongly advocated the union of Alford 1 Forest and Mount Somers. I did so when L the formation of a debating society was : mooted,; and on all subsequent bccassions 1 until I fe’.t convinced that there existed an undercurrent, strong enough: I am' sorry to say, to paralyze all such action,; i and although I will be glad at all times to do my best to obtain the end; I have always advocated, viz, a close union between Mount Somora and Alford Forest, I am net willing to ignore that a c rres- ‘ pondent ought to have much broader views than to call the world the small circle where his residence happens to be., 1 My letter of the 10th ult., re the visit of ’ the Minister of Public Works to the Mount Somers township has given offence 1 I am sorry to say. Yet I cannot see in 1 it anything but facts candi ily written. That some of the influential people of Mount Somers care little where the railway station is as long as it is within easy walking distance of their homes is a fact. Others have broader views I am glad- to say, and many I hope are well convinced that iwifcljout the assistance of the • Alford; 1 Forest trade, the Tinwald-Mount" Somers railway will never pay, my opinions coin--1 cides with theirs. Once, since the railway was opened the unlucky thought occurred to me to get some goods by rail, but never will I do such a foolish thing again. Firstly, one runs the risk of send- : ing a dray to Anama, and if through’ an oversight on the part of the good, people of Ashburton the goods, have .been delayed, the dray comes back, empty. Journey No. 1. On the following Saturday you make up your mind to ride over and see if the goods are really there hefor3 you send the dray agdn. Journey No. 2. If they are there, it’ is'. airace back home, and except in Samoqtenit is impossible to have the goods brought to Alford Forest in any thing. Sike decent time, Again, as there is no station master- and the goods -iwe In , the trucks it is a matter of importance to know that the sender in Ashburton • is careful in labelling all the goods, also, that the labels are securely fixed. On" the memorable occasion above alluded to, amongst other thin. a I expected half a ton of flour, two mats of sugar and four hanks of sewing twine, and I never was so near loading another man’s goods as I was that day. In one of the trucks I found flour, sugar, and twine—the last article attracted my attention, and as no labels were attached and my name was on the truck, I should certainly ha r e loaded them if other articles, a cheese amongst the rest, had not cansad me to search further—and at last, I did discover my flour, and sugar, all in the guard’s van with the other articles I expected. To prevent mistakes, I strongly advise everybody to have their goods securely labelled. On the day iri question the morning would have led any one to expects fine day; however, towards three o’clock, clouds began to gather, and it rained during the night. A base containing a sewing -machine and pthbr, articles easily damaged, by rain water .was put I suppose under the shed when the goods were landed, but when I went-to load it certainly was ori the platform, but net underthe shed, and as it was not water-tight the goods would have been undoubtedly damaged if they Had not been carried away the same day. 1 mention this, not to ventilate a personal grievance, or to blame the guard or any one else ; I mention it to point out the hardship the Alford Forest people labor under if they receive goods by rail, and must labor under, so long as the line ends in that deserted spot, “Anama.” Would we now, we people of Alford Forest, be greatly benefited if the terminus was at the Mount Somers township ?—well, a little ! a very little ! The b ilk of the Forest trade is timber, # the bulk of the goods traffic by the Mount Somers railway will be for many a long year confined to export. The amount of traffic from Ashburton to Mount Somers or the Fore-.t will be confined to stores, a few bales of sacks, coils of wire, etc. The drays, therefore, will have to go to the .station loaded, and come back empty. Now anyone who knows the district is well aware that from the Forest to the Mount Somers township the road is all up hill. There fore, as a natural consequence, it is down; i hill fr m Mount Somers to Bowyer’s ] stream, and even if there was only one ( station, and that station,somewhere about Bowyer's . stream, the , Mount Somers , people would hCti be laboring under su h great disadvantages I —they w "uld bo 1

about three miles from. the station; whilst the people living at the extreme end of the Forest towards Meth* ven would still be at least six miles from the terminus. Oh, Truth, thou . art beautiful indeed, but when thou art naked thou becomes offensive indeed •; and I wrote the naked truth, therefore my letter gave offence. But the' 'Alford Forest people, I am happy to say, never thought of interfering with the station being opened at or near Mount, Somers'; all they want is to have one at such a distance that .it can be available for their traffic. In the same letter I warned the Forest- people to be on their guard., I brought to their recollection the MethvenRakaia railway. ‘ Dan anyone, unbiased, deny that when the Company was formed a positive promise was made that the railway Should come as far. as Goss’ crossing certainly, and ultimately to Mount Somers;—but, to Goss’ crossing, it. was to come at all events. The line is even surveyed, but there is no more talk of pushing the line-further than, Afotfatfa. - .The Company is. anxious to . levy the tax;ea, although they have broken their pledge ; .and’why .should not w h ath as.ta ke n place in the past take place again T Why, |ifslr having obtained all the support possible from fiiMf terminus handy to the township of Mount Somers, should not the Mount S6m6rs people, as others have done, before, say, “ We have gained our point—good folks, go and do likewise if you can !’ ’ No, I repeat what I stated in my letter of 'the XOth Ndveaiber, I see no valid reason 16 recall I accused no one, 1 only warned the Forest people,,and I wqrn them again. Only those whp think, themselves selfish ehough to serve their own private ihterbffta iristead of those of the district. ait, large • tala. /take offence. The Straightforward broadviews man will accept with good grace what is -palpable to-all, and I fear the landowners of olir district will, find the JRakaia-Methvan Railway a palpable oversight on their part. However, a public writer must expect more kicks than sugarplums ; but I wish it to berhnderstood by all - that although I am ,-.a, paid correspondent, my line of conduct has never been pointed out to' m«—from' first to last 1 i-have been unfettered—and for-what I .wrote lam alone answerable. ’ And what I did write I Would’write , again. The man who has not the pluck to uphold his opiniona has no- business to put pen to -paper. -This I write with the view ...of clearing myself in theeyoa pf the Mount Somers people, certainly not ’ with the idea of insinuating myself into the* good graces of the JSprin’gbaru pr, Alford Forest people. Ido not write for them on importaafi subjects more than I do for the Mount Somera inhabitants. I write for the* interests of the district' at large, and will do so to the end of the journey. Should I see the interests of the Mount Somers people taken undue advantage of, I would most certainly do my best, and. ' that ia little enough, to protest against It. However, I am glad to have to acknowledge that in this matter they have been indefatigable', and should we succeed by united efforts’ to obtain a Station at M6unt Somers and at Bowyer’s stream, I have no doubt iiiahy a laugh we shall’enjoy, over our little squabbles, and be better friends . than ever.