Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1103, 9 February 1872, Page 2

In consequence of tho heavy flood in tbe river yesterday, the p.s. Charles Edward and the s.B. Waipara remained at their moorings. Shoald the weather improve, the Charles Edward will leave for Westport and Nelson to-day, and the Waipara for Hokitika. The s-s. Coorong is expected to arrive from Melbourne direct on Monday, the 12th inst., when she will take passengers for Nelson, all New Zealand ports, and Melbourne, via the BlufE The s.s. Albion is expected here from Nelson on Sunday, when she will be tendered and despatched for Melbourne direct. The delay in her arrival is caused by her having gone on a visit to Napier. An American paper says :— " The island of Newfoundland has caught the railway fever, and hoi advanced on liwa which, if carried out, will shorten still more the voyage between the continents. It is proposed to construct a line of railway from St John across the island of St George's Bay, a distance of 158 miles. Passengers from Europe, instead of landing at Halifax, woald leave at St John, cross the island by roil, and take a steam ferry for the, western port of Shippegan harbor, Bay of Chalear, where they woald join the Intercolonial Railway, which, when completed, will connect with the great network of railroads throughout the United States and Dominion. This woald constitute the shortest and safest route for passengers and mails between Europe and America. The dangers arising from fogs, currents, and reefs along the thousand miles of American coast, on which so many, vessels meet their doom, would be avoided. After a ran of foar or five d&ys passengers would land at St John, step into a railway carriage, and enjoy the pleasure of being whisked across Newfoundland in eight hoar* ; and in twenty-four hoar* would find themselves at Shippegan, whence % branch of the Intercolonial Railway woald forward them to any part of the States in a few hoars. The distinguished engineer, Mr Saodford Fleming, has been the first to suggest this route and to stamp ifc with his high approval. Be is of the opinion that it will prove a remunerative undertaking, and would attract to it a large portion of the passenger traffic and mail matter now passing between the two continents. The near future, he considers, will see it carried oat; and he believes that a daily line of steamers across the ocean woald find ample employ* ment Mails and passengers from London woald reach New York in seven days by this route, Chicago in eight days, and San rran> cisco (via Chicago) in twelve days. When fh» Canadian Pacific line is constructed, this link is its natural completion, and woald make St John, Newfoundland, its eastern terminus. A line of steamers from a port in British Colombia to China and Japan, and another line to Australia, woald supply channels by which the commerce of Asia and Australasia woald reach Europe across New* foundland."