EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2698, 30 November 1882, Page 3

EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

The following is the statement on the subject of the East and West Coast railway recently submitted to the Railway Commissioners when sitting in Christchurch by the deputation from the Railway League: — The Hon. Dr. Pollen, Chairman of the Railway Commission re extension of Middle Island Trunk Line.

Sir, —With reference to what passed at the interview that you were good enough to grant to a deputation from the committee of the Canterbury Railway League on the 20th inst., the committee of the League has now the honor to place before you the following figures representing the estimated annual revenue from traffic upon a railway that would connect Canterbury with the West Coast, and which may be fairly expected to accrue within the next three years, based on the present consumption of the various articles : Timber—l2,ooo,oooft at 4s per 100 ft .£24,000 C0a1—75,000 tons at 12s Gd per ton 46,8 / o Building stone ..._ 3,000 Merchandise and agricultural pro-

duce —20,000 tons at average rate of 30s Parcels ... ••• ••• ••• I*soo Sheep and pigs 2,000 Cattle 2,000 Passengers ... 25,000

Total ....8134,375 This estimate is based on an average distance of 176 miles. The whole of the traffic specified would result directly from communication with the West Coast, and in the opinion of the committee the above estimated earnings would amply justify an extension of the main trunk lint; as far west as Reefton, or to some point farther south, if such were thought more desirable. Although such a deviation would render the so-called trunk line less direct, the committee is convinced that the interests of the colony would be best served by such an extension as would connect the East and West Coasts. Timber —Annexed hereto is an extract from a report prepared by a committee at Greymouth, giving detailed information as to the vast forests of various descriptions of useful, timber existing on the West Coast, which information has been practically confirmed by a commission that was appointed by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce to travel over the districts referred to. Timber from Invercargill and Winton is now being laid down at places as far North as Ashburton (a distance of 324 miles) at lower figures than imports from Pelorus Sound can be laid down at the same place. It is estimated that if railway communication were opened with the West Coast, consumers of timber in Canterbury would be able to obtain their supplies at an average reduction of about Is per 100 ft as compared with existing prices. Coal —The excellent quality for household, manufacturing, and steaming purposes of the extensive seams existing on the West Coast is so well known as to render any detailed information under this head unnecessary. The cost of Newcastle coal delivered in Christchurch is about 30s per ton. From the West Coast coal of good quality could be laid down here by railway at 23s per ton, which would show a saving to the consumer of about 7s per ton. In view of the steady development of manufacturing industries in Canterbury a rapid increase in the consumption of coal may be anticipated. Information has just been made public to the effect that the New Zealand Shipping Company is about to inaugurate a direct steam service with England, and the requirements of the steamers of this service will cause a large additional demand. Building Stone —On this subject an extract from the report of the Greymouth committee is also annexed. The committee of the League is of opinion that the receipts from the'carriage of this article to Canterbury would probably be an important and steadily increasing item. General Merchandise, Agricultural Produce, and Live Stock—The estimated earnings in respect of these are based on the existing statistics of population on the West Coast, and with the increase of population there that would bo sure to follow the opening of railway communication with this district, a considerable augmentation of traffic under these several heads might be looked for. The committee of the League would further invite the attention of the Commission to the comparative statistics of land and stock, dated 30th September last, prepared by Mr John Tinline. If a copy of this paper should not be already in the hands of the Commission the committee will be pleased to furnish one. The committee would also respectfully suggest to the Commission the advisableness of taking oral evidence from the following gentlemen regarding the respective characteristics of the various proposed routes going north, north-west, and west from Canterbury, viz.—Messrs John Tinline, John Inglis, William Atkinson, and W. Hossack. All of these gentlemen possess special personal knowledge of the features of the district in question, and the committee woa'd regard their testimony as particularly trustworthy and valuable.

Having thus indicated reasons which, in the opinion of the committee, show conclusively that the construction of a railway to connect the East and West Coast is a colonial work, that should take precedence over any work intended simply as an extension of a so called trunk line northwards, the committee would now heg to draw the attention of the Commission to some facts which prove that the proposed extension of the trunk line northwards, by way of the East Coast or the inland route, viaTophouse to Blenheim, is not supported by any justifying condition either from a local or colonial point of view. Neither of these proposed routes touch country where minerals or timber exist in any quantity tbat could afford any traffic worthy of mention. The area of agricultural land, or any laud affording encouragement for settlement, that would he opened up would be inconsiderable; and as agricultural produce could be carried by water at much lower rates from the convenient shipping places at Kaikoura and Gore’s Bay, any revenue from the carriage of such px-oducewouldcou-sequently bo of the most trifling character. Moreover, as regards passenger traffic, in view of the wod appointed and yearly improving steam services now operating on the coast, it could not be reasonably expected that any considerable portion of that traffic, as between Lyttelton and Wellington, could over bo diverted to a railway connecting Christchurch and i’icton. With railway communication completed to that point, there would still remain the sea voyage across Cook Siraits; and persons travelling from Lyttelton to Wellington would, as a rule, prefer to

make the voyage by steamer as at present. In the opinion of the committee it is only necessary to peruse the Government Engineer’s report in order to find reasons amply sufficient to condemn the proposal of the Government to extend the Middle Island trunk line northwards, by the East Coast, the Amuri Coast, or the Tophouse routes. Speaking of these alternate routes, Mr Blair says in his report, embodied in the last Public Works Statement: —“My previous report shows that the resources of the country traversed, and the importance of the districts immediately connected, do not alone wan ant the construction of a through lino in any direction j its main object must therefore be to connect the two ends of the colony, and that being the case the shortest and quickest route is obviously the best, The committee firmly believes ’that railway works which would have merely for their object the connection of the two ends or the colony are entirely premature, and would, at least at this stage of the colony s progress, bo productive of no public benefit commensurate to the cost. In conclusion, the committee, feeling confident that it represents the views of the, public of Canterbury, as well as those of the majority of the people on the West Coast and in Nelson, cannot refrain from taking this opportunity of expressing its surprise and disappointment at the whole action of the Government in connection with this question. While considering the matter of extending the Middle Island trunk line, the Government has apparently ignored the possibilities for promoting settlement, and for increasing the wealth of the colony, that could bo made available by the connection of the East and West Coasts by railway; and the committee cannot help viewing with concern the existing danger that the certain prospect of the considerable traffic that could be developed by an extension of the trunk line by way of the West Const may bo sacrificed by the Government in order to give effect to the mere sentiment of completing the Middle Island trunk line by a more direct route, but by one that could not possibly yield any traffic or serve any public interest worthy of any consideration from a colonial point of view. By order of the committee, W. Chrystall, Chairman. Note. —The distance of 176 miles is taken as the distance between Reef ton and Christchurch. When the line from Greymouth to Nelson is completed the whole of the traffic mentioned would pass over the line from Reef ton to Canterbury if that were constructed.