AKAROA RAILWAY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 385, 13 April 1880, Page 3

AKAROA RAILWAY.

To the Editor of the Akaroa Mail.

Sib,—Would you kindly give me space in your columns with reference to the above, as I hope the following remarks will be worthy the consideration of the. committee:—

1. It is patent to all that the colonial policy of the Imperial Government is to imbue the colonies with a self-reliant and self-protective feeling in case of an Imperial war with any power that could liarrass the commerce oi the Empire. Now, Akaroa Harbor being so central, it could not be beaten as a naval depot, and also as a harbor of refuge for mercantile vessels should an enemy's cruiser appear off the coast. The harbor would also be a relieving port for Lyttelton in the wool and grain seasons, as 1 feel quite certain that Lyttelton will require one should the exports increase in anything like the proportion that has been the case during the lust seven years, especially in grain, as it is of vital importance to the producers that grain should arrive in England before the English harvest is gathered. I have no doubt that some will advocate Timarn as a port should the breakwater prove a success, but will the underwriters take risks i iir an open roadstead at the same rate as they would in one of the best har- ! bors of the world ?

2. That so soon asthe railway is formed, Akaroa will be the most fashion able watering place in New Zealand. Even with the present bad commuication there are numbers who resoit to it from the large centres of population. 3. Since the railway has tapped Oxford and other forests, the bush producing power here has steadily decreased through being so heavily handicapped in cost of carriage. I am of opinion that if there were an assurance given of the railway being formed within a reasonable time that the thousands of feet of timber and

' immense quantities of firewood that are burned upon the ground annually would be conserved, and would at a future time give employment to a great body of men. 4. It would be unreasonable to expect from the Akaroa line what no olher lms (l one — i e . that we should beablo.inourpresent neglected state, to show a largo return upon the cost of construction, lint should the Commissioner consider our elainix favorably, then so soon a«the line reaches the water the name of Sleepy Hollow will be buried in the past, which cognomen was adding insult to injury, considering that Akaroa has been quietly shunted out from any share of the millions borrowed for the great immigration and public works policy.

Yours, &c, COCKATOO.