EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2401, 13 December 1881, Page 3

EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

It may be remembered the Chamber of Commerce, at the request of the promoters, agreed to nominate a few of the influential people of the district to report to them upon the commercial worth of this project. We now hear that Messrs John Inglis, J. Beaumont, and Hugh Mollraith have accepted the appointment, and will, with Mr Thornton, proceed to the West Coast by Friday’s coach. It was hoped that Mr Whitefoord, 8.M., would have accompanied the party, but, as appears by the following letter, he is unable to go Kaiapoi, December Bth, 1881. Dear Mr Weston, —1 have just written the Hon. John Hall, stating my reasons why 1 thought it better I should not act in the East and West Coast Eailway Commission. I have declined the offer with much regret, but I feel I am acting in the interest of the promoters in taking the course I have adopted. The project itself is one in which I take the warmest interest, and one I have in every way in my power promoted since I came to reside in Canterbury, and it was entirely at my solicitation that Mr Bolleston (then Superintendent of Canterbury), and Mr Carrathers (Engineer-in-Chlef) accompanied me from Canterbury to the West Coast, via Ahanra, for the purpose of inspecting one of the proposed East and West Coast railway routes.

I feel that the scheme which you so earnestly advocate will, if carried oat, result in a grand success both for Canterbury and the West Coast, and when once completed will largely benefit the colony generally. The vast coal and timber resources of the West Coast will, I think, be tapped by a railway within a very short distance of the_ great dividing range, and at once supply an inexhaustible traffic, while the effect upon the mining interest at Beefton and elsewhere would be to increase the general prosperity of the district, and attract a very large additional population. I shall look forward to the report of the Commission with great interest, and not a little confidence that it will be as favorable as you can desire. Believe me, 40., Caleb Whitefoord.