Correspondence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 609, 8 September 1858, Page 5

Correspondence.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times.

SfJ *. —I observe with pleasure your remarks on the subject of a tramway (horse tramway I would suggest), as applicable to the traffic on a portion of our roads, though I cannot agree that it would be desirable to attempt the use of it to any great extent in the present state of the province as to labor funds or even traffic, still there can be no question that it would be a great boon to adopt it from the Ferry to Ghristchurch where the heavy traffic is chiefly carried on, and from which first named point merchandise, timber, firewood, coal, &c, "could be much more easily transmitted than by the present means, and at a greatly diminished expense. The portion of road unoccupied by the tramway would also open for general use and might be readily kept in repair. Some perhaps might say that the tramway would interfere with the use of the road running.parallel with it, as horses might be shy of it, but such means have been adopted in England, and found entirely to answer. I would instance the tramway from the Forest of Dean Coal Mines to Gloucester and Cheltenham, running in many parts parallel with the turnpike road, where horses draw several laden trucks at one time, and no place could be more suitable than the even surface of the Ferry road for a similar plan. It would however be as useless to lay down rails in a road not thoroughly drained as it would be to throw away gravel or metal on roads where the water lies. It is not the roads only that require draining but the land adjacent, and until there are effectual drains, though the swampy lands of the district we shall always be liable to have our roads rendered unnavailable during wet seasons, and that evil surely is a much greater one to the whole community than adopting and carrying out at once a perfect government system of drainage. I am, yours obediently,

VIATOR.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times.

Sir, —Inventions having for their object to make steam machinery perform the -work of men and horses in the daily practical business of life, are in England often long in coming into general use, and this even after they have attracted sufficient public notice to be tested and pronounced fit for use by men whose experience and judgment is to be relied on. The heavy cost of first outlay on the ma chinery will operate quite as frequently as defects in its practical working to prevent single individuals from making use of it. so as to bring it more generally under the observation of those classes whose operations it will mainly assist. In a colony we are too far distant to judge confidently how far to allow weight to the opinion of those who recommend machinery which has not yet stood the test of many years' trial in England. But when we find that any machinery lias after trial abroad been more than once sent for, we have pretty satisfactory evidence of its usefulness, and may without much heistation try it ourselves.

I have heard many objections started against our sending for the new " Traction Engine," as thai it is not yet known sufßciently at home; it may work very well there, but not- here, and so forth. The following extract from the ' Illustrated London News,' of April 3rd last, will prove I am sure highly interesting, as showing that the Traction Engines referred to in your remarks on tram-roads for this province have been proved and worked on colonial undertakings : —

Tuxfoed's " STEA^r Horse," or Tractiox Engine.—The application of the traction engine or steam horse appears to be rapidly progressing. The Messrs. Tuxford and Sons, of the Boston and Shirbeck Ironworks, Lincolnshire, shipped last week at Liverpool another of these mechanical productions for Cuba, with a series of cars, drays, and ploughs, for attaching to it. This engine forms the third shipped within the last four months for the same gentleman, Senor Slacide Gener, of Matanzas. They are all intended for sugar plantations, and are to plough, to draw cane from the fields to the milL and to carry the manufactured sugar from the mill to a railway station a few miles distant.

I am, sir, yours. &c, LOCOMOTIVE.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times.

Sir.—Allow me, as an integral part of the public, to thank you for the good service you are doing in calling attention to the subject of Railways and Tramways,—a subject which has been too long neglected.

The interest I take in it induces me to ask for . information on one point mentioned in your lastarticle, in which you state that a tramway can be laid down for less than £1,000 per mile. This is so tar below the usual cost of such a work that I fear you must have made some mistake. I do not know how you propose that the tram way be constructed* but I presume some sort of iron rail or traraplate must be employed. Now, if we take the lightest form of rail or plate which could be xised, say one weighing 45 lbs. per yard, the cost of these" alone delivered on the road at .£2O per ton, would be rather more than £1,400 per mile, and the sleepers, chains or spikes, switches, forming road, and widening the present bridges, will, I should think, cost as much as:ain. "As I should be sorry to see any discredit cast on your scheme from an inadvertent, error, I trust you will excuse my calling your attention to what appears to me to be such.

Your obedient servant.

SWITCH.

August 27, ISSS,

[Our correspondent is probably right in his calculations as to the expense of an iron tramway. The expense of laying down a temporary wooden tramway was calculated at the rate we mentioned. At this date it would be better to lay down a more permanent way; and if any steps are taken in the matter, careful estimates must of course be prepared. In the meantime we shall have succeeded in our object if our reaclears are induced to consider the matter carefully as our correspondent apparently'has done—Ed. L. T.]

To the Editor of the Lyllellon Times

Sik,—As blue gum seed is both scarce and costly, I think it should be publicly known that its propagation by slips is almost as infallable as willow cuttings. These from the lateral shoots of a yearling seedling (seven or eight inches in length), if placed in a sheltered bed of fine dafnp loam will strike quickly and may be planted out any time during the summer. There is thus a great saving of both time, trouble, and expense, and a very few plants will be sufficient to form a considerable nursery. The slips should be put out whilst they are still tender, and before they have had time to become woody, the crown always to be retained. Woody shoots from more advanced plants will not succeed. This is the result of trials I have made this season, and considering the constant care a seed bed reqiiires 1 think it the most certain and satisfactory method of propagating this valuable tree. Yours obediently, MARK P. STODDAET.

Wharf.