The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1888. MORE WAYS TUAN ONE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1848, 23 May 1888, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1888. MORE WAYS TUAN ONE.

The Oamaru people are agitating for a rival route to the centre of Otago otber than by the strath Taieri, and claim that if a way of access is opened up by means of what is known as the Otekaike or Dansey's pass, Oamaru, would be the seaport of Central Otago. On the same lines if a road were formed and the ( hau river bridged and some other difficulties overcome all tho way to Mount Cook, from Oamaru via Kurow, would be easy travelling and the stream of traffic which goos by way of Timaru and Fairlio Creek would be diverted to Oamaru and, hence, that town would benefit wonderfully from the opening up of such a route. We have been over the Otekaike pass, and we have an idea what the country is like from Kurow to Mount Cook. The proposal to form a road through to Kyeburn from Oamaru may not be impossible, but the outlay would be yery heavy indeed. For practical uses the haulage would be very distressing, and it is most unlikely that any great amount of traffic would even go through tho pass if it were ever made available for teams. With the construction of the Central Otago railway, tho traffic from Naseby, Kyeburn, and the settlements on the Manitoto plain will go via Dunedin and m tho present finances of the colony, wo do not see how it will be possible to run a rival railway line through Dansey's pass. Some years ago there was a talk of this line being made, but the matter fell through as the present agitation will most likely do also. The present feeling of the Oaraaru people runs on the railway idea There are about twenty miles between tho Otekeike railway station and Kye burn. Out of this distance there are about four miles over level country. Leaving the Otekeike homestead, a start has to be made m ascending the bed of the river. This has to be crossed and re-crossed a great many times and the country on either side is wild and rugged m tho extreme. The engineering difficulties, even towards the formation of a road, are very extensive, while for a railway line they would be much more so. A road through Dansoy's pass would put Oamaru within some 60 miles of Naseby, while by way of Palmerston and Figroot, at least 90 miles are between Port Chalmers and Naseby, and by the Central Otago railway route the distance is much tho same. The Oamaru people want the Central railway dropped and instead of this a road through the pass constructed, and when the road has proved of value a lino of railway is to bo put through. If there were any possibility of tho Oamnru people getting cither the road or the railway formed by Government at the present time the matter might bo considered on its merits, but as far as can be seen there' is every likelihood that the Central Otago E ail way will go ahead now, and tho financial position of tho colony will hardly warrant undertaking any expensive works out of public revenue. Touching the other idea, of making Mount Cook within easy distance of Oamaru, there is not perhaps so much objection, but after all it is doubtful whether any great advantage would accrue by tho expenditure of public money on the formation of a tourists' route to Mount Cook. If tho settlers m tho Mackenzie country were without an outlet for their produce there might be given to the question some little consideration, but it would seem that tho settlers are not moving m the matter, and anyhow they are contented enough with the outlet at present available to them. Naturally Oamaru would bo the place which should reap the benefit of tho diversion of traffic to its markets, and if Oamaru is inclined to pay m proportion for what sho shall receive thereat of the colony will not grudge to help her m a general way, but Timaru will not be of this idea, and the two breakwater cities can fight tho matter out between themselves.