The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 605, 25 August 1858, Page 2

The Lyttelton Times.

Wednesday, August 25. In pursuing to-day the subject;of our remarks on Saturday last, ,\ve propose to use the word " Tramway," to distinguish a Railway on which the motive power is obtained from horses, or, other draft animals, instead of from steam, the agent now universally understood to be; employed in the working of a "Railway." The idea of constnicting" a; Tramway from Christchurch to Lyttelton was viewed with no inconsiderable share, of popular favour in 1855. Had the Province then possessed the means, as it does now, of entering upon the work, it would certainly have been, if not by this time completed, so far tried as to place beyond all doubt its great advantages over any mode of transport now at our command. In October of that year, Mr. Ollivier proposed a resolution in the Provincial Council, having for its object the immediate prosecution of'such a work, as far as Sumner in the .first instance. The Executive, which included Mr. Tancred,Mr... Brittan,, and My. Hamilton, had gone so far as to consult the Provincial Engineer, who then estimated the cost at about . £6000. This, sum) however, was so large compared with the provincial revenue, as at once to conclude both the Government and the Council against further considering a proposition, upon which otherwise inthe main they agreed. The distance from Christchurch to Sumner being about seven miles, gives ; the cost of a Tramway at less than £1000 per mile. Metalling* two miles of road alone from the Heathcote Perry cost some £1500; nor would twice this sum have sufficed if the material had been carted instead of being brought by water from the gravel pits. Generally, then, we may

assume" tlie-cost of n- Tramway and^of a }fmetalledvroad to be about, pquab ': ? •-*• ■ !?NoW the plan we ;should desire % tOv;sde .carried out would he orie of "far more general advantages, extending* its benefits over a far wider rang*e of country, and among* a more numerous population; than the very partial one originally proposed. We would Substitute a provincial fori to local ,--,'. ! Assuming' for the present either the Heathcote Ferry or Sumner as the terminus of the water carriage, we would carry a main line of Tramway as far as the hard dry ground of. the Plains above Riccarton, some four or five miles fromChristchurch. From Christchureli iwe would carry, a line; down: the Lower .ijincoln Road and across'the B[als\vell j another main line to Kaiapoi. Thence north-westerly striking* across the swampy tract, through which the Rangiora/ J direct road is to pass, we would .again bring! the line ; out on the hard dry ground of j the Plain, making it assist also in the drainage of the swamp. ; ; f "These three lines would run -' through the heart of the finest of our agricultural districts, and might-he further extended by branches,' as occasion mig-ht require. * ; One Of our Earliest1 settlers, beforej returning to Canterbury, had .an;oppprtunity of seeing the working of Boydell's; hew engine," which carries with;it and lays its own rails, and passes; easily' over ground both uneven;and soft.;' His. opinion,—-anditmaybetrusted—-is that this, \ engine could be, worked profitably on 1 the hard ground of the Plains; and he spoke ; specially with reference, tp ; ; the bringing down -coal from- the ;.-Malyern;"';Hijl^ to -,Christchurch. ■;• By the employment then of these engines, we would, at a! comparatively cheap cost, extend .pur;;systeni of Tramwa,ys over the whole of the Plain country; north of the Rakaia as far as Uhe Ashley, if not farther.. 5 f-We do not pretend to lay it down; arbitrarily ■ that*: such a; system' of Tramway wpuld; be perfect ab\ initio,: or completed ;in any ?-rapi(Uy-shprt;ispace =of ;time, {but we have;;good^ reason •' to:' Relieve; that iprojfepsionat^mm %p^^ view; f the : idea K iof riit^fevorably, and, would^ think^it one deserving- "of close: .investigation.;:■;■ It ';- ;inight 3;be the first stage tpwards,Mt^at^y^;(^mple-: ; ting the : ;systemr of^;Steanai"Railways \ for; wMch reserved lines oiightnow to1 be chosen. ; >tKe;*^ : be laid; ph^the side- pfjpui* piraent j*roadways, the"fpHpwingLare.ssome offthe kilyaiitag^s we should derive from them. - j --^ ZZ

They would jassist tofmetalipur roads, both cheapening';the,cdst^f'^doing^sP and; 'of keeping bear thepresent heavy; traffic so that^ a thin coat only of;metal-:woMd^bo required: for bur light; traffic^ ;In:winter^t^^m^taileid surface would remain m while easy and expiditious (transport-would be ensured; for our exportable' produce^ and; for pur imports. ;"Sa^g^rbuldXe effected 'ho^}W^Si-\^.^[f.-yf;-i'f;--:f^; ".;;;' .'.."■-. ■■ "-■

They would add; to the value of our cultivated-lands j while those now;too remote from -the sbippingplace* for growing exportable crops;of inferioi*,value, stich as potatoesy.at a profit,, would at once be thrown;open." ; '-_-':: '■'■■■ '";;;;.; Thus a; permanent Land; Revenue would be .secm;ed,;"tp-y;tKe'-;,prbyince. Population, the source of ;all/.wealth, would spread gradually out over the "whole country,! reacting; again upon the land by '[ creating value for- that ait "\ a distance ;from Ithe towns. .; ;;: •-. -.'.:-;-.'. '.:Zy:■■'■.■ ':■■■■■':" :

Coal might be brought from the Malverns:, timber -from j Harewood Porest, ; for much belo^^thppresent,prices. '\; '.'-:■' Pl*icesbf prpvkions wo^^ in the towns, the.: market; kept welh supplied. ;Ahimals fright be Slaughtered j far ■ from the towns'; ttae loss -of 'weight resulting frpm-_driving: animals to' and from changing their pasture would be done away> and asuperior quality of-meat obtained.;;,;'-' ;;;..';'..; ,i^;':'.;'';;l; "''''■-■ ; -'■"',

Greater facilities might^be given in Ithe transaction of? Customs business."^Bonding; Warehouses might be ei3tablish(Bd inland towns,-—goods passing frpmr the; Port to the warehouse underjthe; Crown's lock and key, either, by land ,camage;entirely, or partly by .boats under-; sealed* hatches, and partly by special carriages oh:the,tram; ways. Places, for,-the;,examination; pf goods destined for Christchui-ch might be established on; the Plains'side of-the hills —the goods being sent direct frpm'the ship's side under the Crown's .lock. ;'.".'' ';'

A. large quantity of labour now employed to a great extent unprofitably: in transport would be released for the cultivation of land or other more productive

employment. /This aloiii^i||ilb!be estima?te&" Ss efjuiyaljent to aij&ge'stiys. of immigrants.^ i Z!l \ * ZZZi \ 'Z.i Zv<;'Tlie cost^i^anspqrt-^teinfe^^cheapened we" have gre&iiprvcertainliy of"finding at all times a market-in Australia, even when prices are low. . The delays in transport being reduced, shipping will be detained a much shorter time in Port for cargoes, and thus be enabled to lessen their freight charges. Our most important export, wool, would be delivered at the shippingplaces cheaper and quicker than at present. Time would thus be given for pressing, it before lading in tlie .coasters, so" as. to .secure; its d.6hvery fVom'thein in a condition for immeaiate ; : and final stowage in "the vessels lading for England. If our wpolships by tliisineans could obtain .their .cargoes in ap mpnthf whereas of late they hhaye: waited, three, months, we clearly save two months' ePlpnial interest;-^—no - small sum &t TO rpr _12| per cent. !wheh' we bear ariV mind^that I last season's wool was worth £100,000, (and, that we mayere long send; away £300^000 worth. Iri!shprtj it were; endless ip^detail; the thousand ways and 'methods, in. which outlay would be saved to .the': whole; community by;the improvement of our communications.' -'"'.;- ''•"■; :s;;'; ;■■•..; '"''..Z.' \. f:

• In' proportion as 'the; art transport by' ( land and water is brought^neap,ito,perfection by a country^ so is the extent of its commerce. In proportion as.j the cost of ''transport' is diminished, ''while ;speed land safety of: delivery -are augmented-^-sp is consumption and production -stimulated^ and so are national wealth Land prosperity; advanced..;- ;-;.:" :.••"; ;'"'.■ ";\.. ; :y;';;;'.V \ y>.-'.