THE NEW ROAD—PORT CHALMERS TO CAREY'S BAY.

Evening Star, Issue 3166, 14 April 1873, Page 2

THE NEW ROAD—PORT CHALMERS TO CAREY'S BAY.

To the Editor.

Sir—Some days a-o I found a number of men working at the abuvc, notatthe Government stroke, although they were prisoners, but with a will and skill that made their work light. They were under the charge of Sergt. Macnamara, a very civil person, who carried on the work under the able direction of the pioneer and surveyor, Mr Irving. They were making a substantial road, fenced from the sea by a strong rubble wall. Mr Irving drew my attention to the face of a rock of beautiful stone, brought into view by the work; it is soft, may be turned or cut freely, and after exposure becomes hard ; it is probably part of a rock I observed some years ago to crop out under the hill further down the bay, and to which I called the attention of Messrs Wales, Connor, and Mackay, when the dock was building. If it is so, it will be in abundance, and being so near the Port and Dunedin, it mny become a source of wealth, and convenience for building and for export, as it may be had in large blocks. But to the road, and how to make the most of it. I suggest a set-off from the Dunedin and Port Chalmers railway, of a railway of the same gauge, but light, for horse power, leading along the street to, and close under the hill on this new road. The advantages from it would be equal to adding considerably to the length of the pier, as I believe after ships are unloaded they hold their berth till they are ballasted, which may occupy few or more days, during which tjme tbV baljasp waggons must hinder, more or less, the dispatch of cargo from vessels discharging outside the one receiving ballast. From the hill ballast could be supplied cheap, and as fast as ship could take it ; and our vigilant harbor-master would look to their making dispatch and way for next ship waiting a berth This is a matter of importance : it wou'd shorten the journey to and from every part, the number of extra days a vessel is detained receiving ballast, and the time she lost when discharging, in consequence of the delivery of ballast to other vessels, \ygs lest time to her, apd entailed the same loss of time on the ship waiting for her berth. Ballast from the hill would save this time. Ease freights a little, allow importers to have their goods days earlier, add to the value of the pier, and give va’ue to this new road, and the ballast hill alongside of it; and if the stone referred to is the quality p-actlodj men s,ay, and abundant;, it tfoulil be a n6w source of wealth added' tq the country, deliverable to 9 r rad a trifling cost, This light railway, is the suggestion of a practical man of skill and considerable experience. W Daerymple, sen., April 5, 1873,