CORRESPONDENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 304, 29 September 1855, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times'. Sir, —I attended the meeting held at Chnstchurch, on Wednesday last, to consider the best means of communication between the Fort and the Plains. By the resolutions of that meeting, the besc provision for the wants of traffic for next year, is declared to be the construction of a railway from Christchurch to the Shag rock. Such a line will cross the Heathcote, where it is narrow and unnavigable, over an ordinary bridge; and must involve the construction of an extensive embankment between the terraces of the river, the formation of an expensive piece of road on the level between the old and new ferries, and the erection of a receiving house at Christchurch. To supply the wants of next year, the money must be raised, the line formed, the wheels received, and the rolling stock constructed within six months. Can this be done? And, if it all can be done, what shall we see then ? According to Mr. Hamilton's estimate, the Bar could be crossed about twice as often as it now is; or the vessels which carried away 980 tons of produce in the last 8 months could perhaps, loading at Sumner, "

carry nearly 2,000 tons in the 8 months after next harvest. But, at the Provincial Engineer's very low estimate, on such a line of railway as could be constructed, two horses could draw 12 tons from,Christchurch to Sumner in three hours. If this, with the return journey be a day's work, in eight months or 208 working days 2,496 tons can be so carried for shipment. It seems then that the smallest possible use of the railway would exhaust the carrying powers of all the boats. - Add to this that all farmers must cart their crops from their farms to Christchurch. The road from the Ferry to the Shag rock will be open for summer traffic in 8 or 10 weeks. Suppose during the summer months the road was made good for winter traffic. Suppose a large and strong punt was laid on at the old ferry, and a ferryman's house built. Suppose the road from the Quay to the Ferry was metalled, and a little money spent on the bye-roads and wayside bridges. Gould this be done in time? Would it form a good temporary means of communication ? Would it be cheaper than the first ? Would it be not less than the means of water-carriage which the merchants of Lyttelton can provide? Would it afford facilities to the merchants'of Lyttelton for rendering the boat carriage of produce to Port Victoria as rapid as possible ? And finally, would it take from Lyttelton all cause of complaint that more of the public time and money than were promised, had been spent on the Plains to th%^ detriment of the great high road to Lyttelton? These questions, Sir, have occurred to Your obedient Servant, Some One.