Page 3 Advertisements Column 1

Kumara Times, Issue 2558, 15 November 1884, Page 3

CANNIBAL GORGE ROUTE. Mis. Chns Brunnerton to Christchurch ... 210 56 Brunnerton to Rolleston ... 221 72 Reef ton to Christchurch ... 171 25 Reef ton to Rolleston 172 42 HURUNUI PASS ROUTE. Brunnerton to Christchurch... 154 18 Brunnerton to Rolleston ... 165 34 Reef ton to Christchurch ... 190 08 Reef ton to Rolleston ... ... 202 14 Arthur's tass route. Brunnerton to Christchurch... 138 22 Brunnerton to Rolleston ... 124 18 Reef ton to Christchurch ... 174 72 Reef ton to Rolleston IGO G 8 Arthur's pass and lake lyndon route. Brunnerton to Christchurch... IGO 30 Brunnerton to Rolleston ... 146 26 Reefton to Christchurch ... 197 0 Reefton to Rolleston 182 76 AMURI pass route. Brunnerton to Christchurch... 172 72 Brunnerton to Rolleston ... 184 8 Reefton to Christchurch ... 209 22 Reefton to Rolleston 220 58 Distances are given in the table to Rolleston as well as to Christchurch, because it is the collecting and distributing point for the traffic on the lines that come in south of Christchurch, and a correct comparison cannot be made without giving the distance by all the routes to this place. The above statement shows that in the matter of distance between the principal centres Arthur's Pass route has greatly the advantage. The only exception is between Christchurch and Reefton, and even there the difference in favor of the Cannibal Gorge route is about three and a half miles. Mr Blair continues : —ln my report of 1879 I pointed out the importance of shortening the distance from the West Coast to the populous districts south of Christchurch, and with this object suggested the construction of a direct line from the Arthur's Pass route near Shffield to the main trunk line at the north bank of Rakaia. This would still further reduce the distance to the southern districts by that route, the amount of the saving being fully twenty miles. This point and the general superiority of the Arthur's Pass route in respect to lengths are more clearly brought out by the following statement:— Miles. From Rakaia to Brunnerton by Cannibal Gorge 243 From Rakaia to Brunnerton by Arthur's Pass 125 Balance in favor of Arthur's Pass 118 From Eakaia to Eeefton by Cannibal Gorge ... ... 203 From Eakaia to Eeefton by Arthur's Pass IG2 Balance in favor of Arthur's Pass 41 So far as the districts north of Christchurch are concerned the line just opened between Oxford and Malvern brings them within easy access of the Arthur's Pass route, the distance from Sheffield to Ashley via Oxford being somewhat less than that to Christchurch via Rolleston. Another stroug argument in favour of the Arthur's Pass route is, that it comes nearer Hokitika and other places south of the Grey than either the Amuri or Cannibal Gorge lines. The other more important points of comparison betweeu the rival routes are shown by the following figures : Estimated Cost. £ Cannibal Gorge, length to make, 142 miles; greatest altitude, 2550 ft. ; length of main range tunnel, 2 miles 15£ chains 1,875,000 Hurunui Pass, 101 miles; greatest altitude, 2360 ft. 1,408,000 Arthur's Pass, 95 miles, greatest altitude, 2330 ft. 1,505,000 Lake Lyndon, 126 miles, greatest altitude, 2700 ft. 1,994,000 Amuri Pass (figures approximate), 104 miles, greatest altitude, 2400 ft. 1,300,000 In the above statement, and otherwise throughout this report, Brunnerton is taken as the Western terminus of the proposed railway. If, however, we assume that the connection of Reefton with the PJast Coast is a condition, the cost of the two lines that come into completion will stand thus : —Christchurch to Eeefton, via Cannibal Gorge, £1,875,000; Christchurch to Brunnerton and Reelton, via Arthur's Pass, £1.806,000. In conclusion Mr Blair .says :—"The information obtained by r,he recent surveys, particulars of which are given herein, confirms more strongly than ever the conclusion of my report in 1879, and which is endorsed by the Eoyal Couimidsiou that the maximum of facilities for transporting the West Coast product to a market is afforded by the Arthur's Pass route. The line which has been most strongly advocated as against the Arthur's Pass route is the one by Cannibal Gorge. In my opinion there is no comparison between