The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 661, 9 March 1859, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times.

Wednesday, March 9. Every one is in these days aware of the immediate effect which an improved means of transport has ixpon the general prosperity of a country—how production is stimulated and the demand for labour, increased—how a value is conferred on articles which were before valueless and even looked on as nuisances—how the value of land rises with the value of produce—and, above all, how much is saved to a community by the economy of time. All this is now very well understood ; and in countries where the English language is spoken every effort is made to introduce, wherever it is practicable, the great modern improvements in the art of transport.

We know too, here in Canterbury—what America taught long^ ago—that to anew country facility of transport and economy of time are especially important, and that every pound spent in procuring these advantages produces interest at a rate almost incalculable. Considering the resources of this province, its great prosperity, and the geographical features which point specially to such a conclusion, it is not wonderful that the public voice should ere this have demanded railway communication between the producing districts and the place of export. Under our present circumstances this has become a necessity : unless, indeed, we are prepared to let our opportunities slip by unimproved, and allow others less favoured by nature to outstrip us by dint of energy and activity. Let us see how the province stands with regard to this question. During the last session of the Provincial Council opinions appeared undnimous as to the necessity of immediately undertaking the great- public work qf the province, but they were very divided as to the route to be adopted and the mode of execution. It was finally resolved that a commission of scientific persons in the province should be appointed to report upon the proper lines for railways over the plains, and to collect information to form data upon wlrch an English engineer might base a sound opinion as to the line into Lyttelton: further, that proposals for the railway should be submitted, with such information, to contracting houses at home. A sum was also guaranteed by resolution sufficient to cover preliminary.expenses. \

These resolutions were immediately acted upon by the Government. A Railway Com mission consisting of all the engineers resil dent at tlie time in the province, whose local knowledge could be made available, has been at work for some time collecting evidence and maturing a general railway scheme for t} JQ province. Their report will, we understand bo brought up for transmission to England by the next mail, and with it will be forwarded all the evidence on the subject of railw ay communication between the port and the plains which can be obtained here. At the same time our agent in England, Mr. Jpj^. Gerald, has been informed of the steps taken and of the evidence which he may expect on the subject. But in the meantime his despatches show that he has not been idle. The ° letters from Mr. FitzGerald, which we pub. lished last week, are probably fresh in the recollection of our readers, lie had no evidence before him of the direct line and tunnel but he obtained an estimate of and an oiFep to construct a temporary and partial railroad to be worked partly by locomotives, partly by horses, by way of the Sumner valley. His information is so far satisfactory that it I appears probable that we shall be able to j obtain means in England for carrying out our i railway. But the proposal forwarded by the last mail ought not to divert us from the plan laid down so lately. We have every I reason to believe that the evidence which will now be forwarded to London will cause a great change of opinion on the question. According to the best evidence to be obtained here, and according to calculations based upon Mr. FitzGerald's letter, the direct line from Lyttelton to Christchurch may be satisfactorily completed at a cost little exceeding £200,000. Now, the partial work proposed by the London contractor would cost £70,000, while £422,000 would be required to complete the railway into; Lyttelton; and this railway when completed would be double the length of one via the Heathcote valley. The working expenses would thereby be doubled, the cost of keeping the line in repair doubled, and the time lost in the journey doubled. We cannot afford to spend so large a sum as £70,000 on a temporary work, while a permanent one is within our reach. Mr. FitzGerald no doubt thought that such a railway would be better than none at all; but if he had the data before us he would scarcely hesitate. The sharp inclines and the dangerous nature of the road along which the horse tramway, is proposed to be carried would alone lead to very heavy expenses. It would sooa become necessary to. make a better line, & good railway for locomotives. Any engineer will tell us that to complete the whole line vi& Sumner in a business-like; manner would cost about double the amount required to complete the shorter: and more satisfactory route by way of the Heathcote valley. No case has been made out for altering the present plan of operations; but a case has been made out for expediting the proceedings, and for sacrificing a great deal for the sake of rapid and certain communication witu the interior. This, railway is the most important work we shall be called on to do for many a; 3 rear, and we should devote our undivided energies to its completion. Mr. FitzGerald is now in a position, thanks to his previous exertions, to facilitate the adoption .of any plan that may be decided on. Once the throat line is. made from Lyttelton to Christchurch, arteries will soon spread with great cheapness and speed all over our plains. Temporary tramways across the plains, with horse carriage, would feed the Lyttelton line for many years to come. : But while the tunnel is. in course of completion, the land carriage between the two* chief towns ought not to be cut off or neglected. The Sumner road, even such as it isnow, has proved its value for cart traffic. For this purpose the Sumner line was originally intended, and it should not be diverted from it. Now that the main roads on the plains have been put into good.working order, the province is in a position to expend whatever sum may be necessary to complete the Sumner road for light cart traffic; this must be done sooner or later, and it is better to do it at once before any of the works which have already cost so much get out of repair. About £5000 would, we believe, be sufficient for the purpose, and this sum could be easily spared out of the revenue of the coming year. It is evident that the funds for the railway must be found by way of loan; and, this being the case, no work.has a stronger claim, on the current revenue than the Sumner road. The Heathcote valley railway, and in ; the meantime the Sumner road for light cart traffic, "appear likely to solve the great question of communication between the port and the plains. .

We had something to say as to the collateral ad vantages, of raising a loan to. carry on such a work as the Ly ttelton and Christcnureh. railway, by which the interest would be more than repaid. Even "while."the: works are in hand we caii foresee no loss to the. province from the expenditure of interest for the introduction of so much money and labour into the province. But we must defer our remarks to another occasion.