TRAM OR RAILWAY V. DRAY ROAD AND RIVER.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 813, 6 March 1871, Page 2

TRAM OR RAILWAY V. DRAY ROAD AND RIVER.

[to the editor.] Sir, — Your correspondent, " One Who has Carried on the Roads," very clearly places the advantages which a dray road would be to the district, but under-rates the value of a tram, if properly constructed and worked. I advocate both as one property, made and worked, as a dray road for local purposes, rails for general carrying, long distances, and despatch. Let me assume Ms figures as correct for the work and profit of a six.- horse dray, via., 4 tons, two and a-half trips weekly to Ahaura, at half the river freight, L 3 per ton — L3O ; feed of horses, Uf los, leaving for wear and profit, L 22 10a. On rails, sara© team, will take, with greater ease and despatch, four times the quantity, or earn Ll2O at same expenses as dray, or L9O in favor of tram, which would also secure 99 per cent, of the return freight — at least the passengers, as who would take a dray in preference to a Pullman's carriage ? Engines could be used to great advantage, and make a better return than horse-power. To make the Grey Valley the most prosperous district in New Zealand, and to ensure against all competition, we only want three things done, and that at onee — Ist. The Grey Valley in one district under the General Government, with a simple and economical administration. 2nd. Grant a railway and road company 3 acres of land and L 3 cash per chain for a line &nd free dray road from port to the reefs, with branches to the principal centres of population, and tracks everywhere. 3rd. The coal mines to be efficiently worked and port improved. Yours, &0., One who has Carried on Rails, Road, and River. Greymouth, March 4, 1871.