The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 605, 21 August 1858, Page 5

The Lyttelton Times.

.-;.,■.,.: Saturday, August 21. Whatever: may be done towards establishing a system of good metalled roads through Vthe. agricultural districts during the ensuing summer, we must take some further steps it we wish really to meet the pressing requirements of the province. Of course, when we are able to afford such luxuries, Railroads will be the proper means of communication ;—we have already suggested the desirability of reserving lines of Railway throughout the Province, before it is too late. But before we can "afford Railways, we shall want some better and cheaper means of communication than mere roads. We are informed on the best authority that the expense of keeping all our main roads properly 'metalled and in tolerable repair during- the winter would be so enormous as to render it impossible with our resources. Our traffic is increasing daily, and the wear and tear of our roads is consequently increasing in a correspondingratio. If we wish to place ourselves in a position to compete with other agricultural countries, and to retain in the Province as large a portion of the profit on ■wool-growing as possible, some middle plan must "be found between common metalled roads and Railroads.

The idea has been already mooted' in this province of laying down a tram way for horses on apportion of our lines of communication. When the idea was first put forward, it was believed that we were not in a position to commence such a work. Now, however^ the case is different. It is manifest that something' must be done, more permanent and more to be relied on, than' anything yet attempted. On our main lines of road there would be" room, if the whole width were made, for layingdown our lines of rails for heavy traffic, without interfering; with the ordinary uses of the road. Proper sidings might be made at convenient distances to enable a fast passenger-car to pass baggage-wag-gons. Besides the great advantage to be obtained from the comparative permanency of the road, it is obvious that there would be ah immense saving of power. The difference between the loads which horses conld draw on rails and those which they could draw on indifferent roads is almost inestimable. It must be remembered that there would be nothing in waggons drawn by horses on rails to terrify animals passing them, more then such waggons draw on a common road. If the edge of the main roads, (which are wide enough to allow of it) were thus usod, thore would be very littlo expense in

laying down such tramways. They would be like those used in collieries at home. The expense of maintaining them would be far less than that of maintaining metalled I'oads without such assistance.

We believe that it has been already estimated that a tramway from Chi'istchurch to the Ferry would cost about £4000, i. c. about as much as it will cost as it is to put the Ferry Road into really good working order. Why not try the experiment on the side of that road, on which most of the traffic of the settlement concentrates ? The road must be widened to its full breadth. Let us make the most profitable use^of the space "afforded us.

We deeply regret that an anonymous and libellous letter, reflecting on the Provincial Engineer, found its way into the last issue of the 'Lyttelton Times.' Its character and tendency was overlooked at the time of insertion. If the writer of such a letter had proper grounds- for making1 so serious a charge as the one hinted at, he should have taken a more manly step than that of endeavoring to injure by anonymous insinuations. We must again express our regret that our columns should have been made a vehicle for propagating them.