THE KAIKOURA STAR KAIKOURA, JUNE 8, 1894. Mail Communication. Fugitive Thoughts.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XIV, Issue 745, 8 June 1894, Page 4

THE KAIKOURA STAR KAIKOURA, JUNE 8, 1894. Mail Communication. Fugitive Thoughts.

Advocacy of more frequent overland mail communication between Blenheim and Christchurch has been brought before Kaikoura residents on several occasions during the past few months. The suggestion made is that a thriceweekly service be established. If this is urged with the idea that, already having weekly communication, something additional will be granted it is an excellent one. Should, however, it be urged in the hope aud assurance that the request will be complied with fully, we feel satisfied that, for the present at least, disappointment will result. A twice-weekly service during the Summer, or for six or seven months in the year, and a weekly service for Winter or say for five months—would satisfy immediate requirements. The term immediate is used in a qualified sense. No change is likely to be made during the currency of existing contracts for conveyance of mails between Blenheim and Waiau. Before an accelerated through service, via Kaikoura, can be s arted a number of changes will have to be made at numerous points along the whole length of the line of road between the A watere river and Waiau. The Awatere should, of course, be bridged. The absence of such a structure, spanning that treacherous waterway, is not, however, sufficient excuse for delay in starting a twice - weekly overland mail service. The lions in the path are poor roads in a number of places, steep gradients in others, and the absence of wayside accommodation. These are obstacles easily surmounted, but they must be surmounted, oj cleared away, before a more expeditious service can be started. To enter upon such before removing the obstructions now besetting the path would cause, deluys, interruptions and inconveniences calculated to damage the means of transit in the eyes of tourists. Shorter stages will be an essential requisite in the furtherance of more rapid coach travelling. Where, and at what distances apart, are these to be established ? Twenty-five mile stages would be out of the question in a triweekly service, unless the subsidy for the conveyance of mails was a very good one, or the passenger traffic very considerable. Five and twentv miles would be a long stage over bad' roads, including- river - bed travelling, for, even, a twice-weekly service. Much improvement is required on the road at the southern end. After crossing the Mason, just above Waiau, a coach should have a clear run along the terraces —with one short gap above the finger post in the Lottery creek—right past The Neck on to the road taking the traveller to The 'Longue. This would expediate travelling considerably, as it would save traversing a lot of river bed. Between the northern terminus of the road through the Wandel and the southern end of the road leading from the Whale’s-back greater difficulty will be experienced in getting clear of river-bed travelling. The difficulties, however, are not unsurmountable. The road along the Whale’s - back wants improvement. Depressions over culverts—the formation having subsided greatly—require making up, and the roadway widening thereat, almost right up to the Conway. I he same attention is necessary in one or two places between the Conway and Green Hills. Prom the Greenburn to Kaikoura the steep cuttings are the worst features. Between the Hapuka and the Clarence the necessary work is not of a very costly nature, bridging a couple of creeks, and widening the roadway—by cutting into the solid—being the more urgent. North of the Clarence much could be done to improve the road, chiefly nortli of Kekerangu. In the foregoing it is urged that a twice-weekly service would suffice

for immediate requirements. This is advanced for two reasons, chiefly. Such a service would answer all present mail requirements in conjunction with sea going means of communication, even though the latter is sometimes of an intermittent character. While, in the second place, neither the number of tourists who would do the round journey, via the West Coast, starting from and returning to Christchurch, or who would come along the East Coast route, or the grand total of the ‘ Ambassadors of Commerce,’ generally styled ‘commercial travellers,’ who would make use of the service, would justify the Government in paying a good round sum as mail subsidy. Unless the coach proprietor who obtains the contract for conveyance of Her Majesty's mads is adequately recompensed then would it amount to a case of ‘ sweating,’ an order of things that the State, at least, should resolutely set it’s face against. This, however, is done in the case of several mail contracts, owing to the keenness of competition and the too general observances of acceptance of the lowest tender. Any otter below a reasonable price for the conveyance of mails should not be entertained, in the interests of contractors themselves.

Apart from improvement in roads, provision for way side accommodation, and relays of horses, acceleration of rail communication between Christchurch and Cui verden twice during the Summer and once in Winter is very necessary to enable a more speedy through service to be established on a satisfactory basis. Will the Railway Commissioners make this alteration ? If the concession is not granted then will it be more costly to coach the service. Developments are awaited before discussing the matter further.