THE PORT CHALMERS RAILWAY.

Evening Star, Issue 3148, 22 March 1873, Page 2

THE PORT CHALMERS RAILWAY.

To the Editor.

siu am sorry to notice a want of understanding as to the quantity of work to be done on a railway ; some even believe that the traffic on the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway is already as much as can be done. This impression may do harm, so far as to prevent for a time the extension of railways over the country. On this line, there run daily, from each end, live trains ; the five carry, if fairly loaded, 1,000 tons, each way ; but this quantity has not presented itself for transit, one day with another, since the line was opened. Were it needful, two sets of hands may be employed, and sixteen trains run from each end, in sixteen hours, when 3,200 tons could he carried each way. Or the working conducted, as some of the home lines are, for the whole twenty-four hours of the day, when 4,800 tons could be carried each way. If this did not meet the traffic, add to the line a sufficient siding at raid-way, and let trains leave each end every twenty live minutes, then each way might be carried 11,400 tons daily; if this will not meet the demand, double the trains. There is no use in misbelieving this, and saying “ it cannot be done,” for such is done at home On British lines, more work is performed than all persons, horses, and bullocks, could do. Could cattle be had to do the work, the whole food grown in England would not feed them ; all the leather tanned for saddlers’ use would not supply harness and other accessories.

I occasionally visit our station; there, everything appears to be done to order, with order, and time to spare. The managers seem to have jumped at once into a knowledge of their business, and have had the tact to select employes well adapted each for his post—their bearing to each other and the public is admirable. I hope our other railways, when opened, will be equally well conducted, and that the managers of this line will realise their full share of the benefits to fall to all New Zealand from the making and working of this line. Make railways, and they will make the country.—l am, &c., Wm. Daluvmple, Sex. Fort Chalmers, March 21.