GREYMOUTH-HOKITIKA RAILWAY

Kumara Times, Issue 2956, 21 April 1886, Page 3

GREYMOUTH-HOKITIKA RAILWAY

[to the editor.]

Siu— U to [dan ideas may be safely indulged in by Fortune’s favourites, but to practical every-day workers Something more utilitarian is generally acceptable. I have heard of some who advocate making railways in the back country to facilitate settlement and to open up new industries. That may be all very well in its way from a colonial point of view, but wluvt we have to conddei is our local and immediate wants, and to seek a short remedy, without beating about the bush of impossibilities or wailing for the East and West Coast Railway, which, let the work bo expedited ever so much, cannot take less than lour or five years to complete and open for Irafllc. Were lbe construction of the (irey-llokitika Railway urged upon dm Government now that they have partially commenced the wmk, it may have bei oil ciai results. We may depend upon the united support of I lie inhabitants of Greymonth and Hokitika in Hie endeavour io ge( tins haig delaved tailway /unshed. I’ne e anin neii cine l;. iif Greymout ii. i ioiuiiX-t and .K’iinara, property laid before ;bo i\i mister for Putibc Works miy have, die desired effect in us construct ion, and m about eighteen months we should iiave riio pleasure and honour of holding an , ex hi aratiug ceremony in opening die I railway, and having a rapid transit io our friends in tne two ’ports under our j lee, A few fjgure.s will show appmxi- ' nnuoly wnai uns been lost to tins tiis-

trice iij tough !iic want of mil .v;u

intercourse w;; ii <mr ii-"i<?iiiiours : JSm

the p' piiiai i• • ■ iii-i a-ai ; i,,• .•ai.-.vniiid-mg districts mts uvoiagru -iudO ior eight

years, and take 301 bs. weight, including everything for c msamntion, per head per week, we have nearly 25,000 tons, which, at an average difference between road and railway freight of twenty-fivo shillings per ton, amounts to over £31,000 or nearly £4OOO per ymar. Even should these figures bo based too high, theie still remains a heavy margin in favour of a railway. The superior accommodation for travelers should not be lost sight of, or the large sum which would have been saved, and if added to the extra freight bill would probably be creeping up close to £50,000. Kumara ! shake yourself and come forth and urge your longdeferred and just claims upon the Government! who, seeing the necessity of your wants, may accede to your request. The prospect justifies the demand, for what sound could be more pleasant than to hear the rattle of the engine and carriages, the hissing and whistling of the steam, and the bustle and excitement as a well-filled train runs into a comfortable and com mo. dious station, and the sonorous tones of a smait railway guard rings out the familiar name Kumaia ! Kumara ! ! Kumara ! ! ! —I am, sir, yours truly, Fkeight. April 19, 1886.