CORRESPONDENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 298, 8 September 1855, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Lijttdton Times. Sir, —So much has appeared both in your paper and the Standard lately on the much vexed subject of communication between Lyttelton and. the. Plains, that I think a few practical remarks from one who has had as many opportunities of judging for himself, and learning the opinion of, others, as any one in the settlement, may not be famiss—more particularly with respect tea proposed tramway. I vvilL not trespass on your space by going at lenyth into any of the plans proposed, but will rather briefly review what has recently appeared in .print on the subject.

First then, as to the letter signed " Old Navvy." I would desire to record the fact that the public voice denies to the writer the merit of being what he assumes. The " impression" made was decidedly unfavourable, nor have I heard any one, be he merchant, shopkeeper, or fanner, say lie " fancied the idea his own." On enquiry among the farmers and stock owners, I find that, although 'some short time back comparatively few persons had drays, yet such numbers have been recently imported as almost 10 put it in the power of the smallest fanner to procure one. Tiiey tell me further that once having loaded their drays they will not shift the load to a truck on a tramway, to have it again removed into a boat at the Ferry—although they may in some cases use the tramway^ were it completed into the Port. Now, sir, recent events have shown that there may be some difficulty in procuring means for bringing the tramway into Lyttelton, which, I think, would be an advisable measure. I maintain therefore, that taking into consideration the fact of there being already a tolerably good cart road to the Ferry, and sufficient drays to dp the work, it would be an unwarrantable waste of the public money to lay down a tram road to the Ferry, of which, when made, few would avail themselves. B.V a paragraph, in your paper last week, the public were informed that the Superintendent called a few persons together (privately) for the purpose of consulting them as to the advisability of laying down a tramway, for the present, from Christchurch to the Shag rock. The meeting being private, the public are not iv the possession of the details; but it strikes me that as the public road cannot be closed, a tramway could not be laid down until the road was widened to its intended ''limits. This would be a serious expense just now, and the tramway would have to be placed on the loose stuff with which the present ditches should have to be filled. I entirely agree with ".Bough Guess" that the most immediate remedy for the evils we are suffering from wonld.be the construction of capacious sheds at the end of the present land carriage, and an increased number of good boats. These are matters within our reach, and I can assure the fanners that active steps have been taken to provide this accommodation. The question of steam navigation is not so tangible. I am not so long from home as to for-g-et the advantages of steam; but the use of it on the Sutnner bar is an unsolved problem. Five-sixths of all the masters of vessels who have entered this harbour have declared their doubts of its success ; still I would", have.it .'tried. A steamer, however, will not go beyond the Old Ferry,; therefore, under any circumstances, we must have a proper depot there. I would here remind "Rough Guess that sailing vessels constantly discharge their cargoes of produce into the ships in harbour. This latter writer alludes to the insufficiency of the present Jetty at Lyttelton. On enquiry, I find the facts are'these: Until within the last few weeks there have not been carts to convey the goods from the Jetty as they were landed. This is no longer tnecase, and the difference is striking. I am told also that sometimes, in order to save cart hire up and down, heavy packages are allowed to remain on the Jetty for many days. This ought not to be allowed. Here it may be remarked that your correspondent's estimate ; for enlarging the Jetty, and laying down moorings, is quite insufficient. Practical men have long since estimated this at at least £3,000. Your correspondent, of Saturday last, shows us that the projected tramway must be abandoned for want of "shot;" but the Standard, of Thursday week, tells us it is for wont of poivder. Where the Standard obtains its mercantile information is a mystery; for strange as it may seem, no order for poivder has gone through the hands of any Lyttelton merchant; and I find that all their, late advices from Sydney (say August Ist) report blasting powder as being cheap and plentiful. If any of the "Christchurch merchants" possess later ot better information it would explain this statement. Yours, &c, lota.