RAILWAY EXTENSION.

Evening Star, Issue 3069, 19 December 1872, Page 2

RAILWAY EXTENSION.

To the Editor. Sir, —Last session of Parliament, Sir David Monro, the member for W aikouaiti, asked the Government when the railway line through that district would be surveyed. In reply to the question put, it was stated that the line would be surveyed da ring; the recess. “It is therefore high time it was commenced; ” and then it would not be before the time to do so, as the line is a most important one in a pecuniary view, because, if opened up by cheap and expeditious communication a large extent of country. Indeed, no line of railway in Otago will pay better than this one between Dunedin and Palmerston; and I am rather surprised at the General Government not having noticed this some time ago. lam aware that there are certain difficulties to be encountered in the construction of the line somewhere about Blueskin, but not being insurmountable, they might as well be encountered at once, as to linger over them, especially as the work must be done sooner or later. In stating that the line of road referred to is an important one, it is necessary that I should point out certain facts in proof of its importance. Well, on a rough calculation, about 70,000 tons of goods are annually conveyed on it from Dunedin to the diggings, via Waikouaiti and Palmerston, exclusive of various kinds of grain, wool, and timber, the produce of the former place and Shag Valley, Uf timber, a very considerable quantity is sent from Dunedin up country, and somewhere about 500,000 ft. finds its way bywater to Waikouaiti annually, and is actually absorbed in that district. The passenger trade is very fair on the road indicated, as there are five coasters regularly running on the same, and all of them carrying a fair number of passengers. -1 am, &c., A Believer in Railways, Waikouaiti, Dec. 17.