THE NORTHERN RAILWAY.

Evening Star, Issue 4215, 30 August 1876, Page 4

THE NORTHERN RAILWAY.

(From the Oamaru. ‘ Evening Mail.’’] • ITJPbe'rline from Oaraaru to Hampden is now perfectly fit to be taken off the contractor’s hands. The permanent way is most excellent throughout, and the steady miming of the train—which, by-thp-byo, averaged a ipeed of twenty-five miles an hour throughout the journey—is sufficient proof that the fine is thoroughly safe for ordinary passenger traffic. There is ohe exception, however, wh|ch r we must mak&in. regard.tq the .general excellence of khd that is the Kaika Bridge^ ; The present state of this bridge breally the only argument which the Govern* BWttt Qptdfi npq against immediately opening theroadfortraffic. Unfortunately this is rather - a teriouff-oueyaa the general appearance of tl e structure at the present moment is not calculated to inspira Confidence'in the minds of those persdiis' who may have to travel over it. So far as the actual safety of the bridge

_Ta concerned, there is no reason o fear, for "when tne' engine and fb tied marriai'e traversed it last Friday,, there- was Ji, 9, .sensible deflection} The u ntrac or-, undorfhe direction of the engineer, are now busy strengthening the bridge, and in a few weeks it will ■ ; be as secure as auy on the line. But, tor the sake of argument, we will suppose that the bridge is unsafe, then we hold that is no reason why the line-' should not be opened. There are two very feasible ways of getting out of this difficulty, and the first one we shall propose is, of course, the less expensive. Let the train ran as far as the Kaka

Bridge, and the passengers can alight and over, the engine drawing over the «mpty train. There is a good footpath alongside the sleepers, and no apprehension need be feared on the score of risk to the nassengers. The other plan to obviate the ■oiffioulty would be to have a carriage and engine waiting at the south end of the bridge, , and the pnblio could then be Conveyed to Hampden, which is only about ten minutes ride from where the Change of carriages would be effected. In either , ease, the plan we have proposed is worth a trial, as it is a monstrous thing that twenty-four miles of good railway should be closed to the public for an unfor-

seen mishap of this kind. We are in a mention to state that Messrs Broaden and Sons, the contractors, have offered the Government very favorable terms as to the conditions on which .the line should be worked for the benefit of the public, and we believe we are not guilty of a breach of confidence when we state that Mr Lowe, the local engineer,.considers the line tit fur passenger traffic, with, of course, the exception of the Kaaa Bridjre.''^