PROPOSED HANMER RAILWAY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11487, 21 January 1903, Page 9

PROPOSED HANMER RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS.

Sir,—Two years ago I had the opportunity of riding on an electric tramway running from Niagara Falls as far down as the rapids, whence at is continued back on the opposite or Canadian side. This line struck me by the cheap and haphazard way it was built, so much so that I enquired of one of .the authorities if it was quite safe. He explained that 'twas, and went on to say that the management found it to be meeting it* demands admirably. The round trip might be anything between eight and ten miles, and steep grades donot seem to retard t]i« care in the least. I mention this after reading the account in your paper this morning of the proposal to spend £150,000 in the construction of a Culverden-Hanmer railway. The Plains, even if properly opened up, oould hardiy supply sufficient freight to warrant a railway, "therefore it would depend eolelv on passenger traffic. A eystera of tram service, laid somewhat better than the above instance, would find an adequate initial power in the natural water-race immediately below the Waiau ferry, a spot which, apparently, does not present*serious engineering difficulties.— Yours, etc.,