THE LINE OF RAILWAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 661, 9 March 1859, Page 3

THE LINE OF RAILWAY.

|| !«;!• To the Editor qfi the Lyttelton Times. $£ Sir,— May I venture .a remark upon Mr. Bray's jjetter of the 3rd instant. Though that gentleman Charges your contemporary with a misstatement, |JBid points to the " folly" of which the province be convicted were it to follow Mr. FitzGerald's "jidvice, or rather that of the eminent engineers t <whom he }>as consulted, is he perfectly straightjfonvard in his deductions in favour of the " direct Ijnc'?" Does he mean to say that, supposing a tun--jpel through the Port Hills, 1000 yards in length, -ifpouldeost yard, he will be j ust ifi e d in paying thai, a." tunnel of 2800 yards will only cost *800times£45? ' : ' ' .

Mr. Bray surely knows better than thisj and can |ly defend, his deduction as to the cost of the grand fnnel by considering £.45 a yard as a/w% sufficient iWhite thus: calling attention to what seems a cP yevc emir in Mr. Bray's/calculations, Ido not

. wish .to stand forward as an advocate of the Sumner Valley line. My object is merely to endeavour to put the public on its guard against being led away by any prejudiced opinions; and a3 it is evident that Mr. Bray is decidedly biassed in favour of the "direct line." his arguments should be regarded with at least as much suspicion as Mr. FitzGerald's scheme, the result of his supposed preference for the line by Sumner. But what judgment have the other engineers formed who are associated with Mr. Bray by tho local Government in an inquiry into this subject? Is it yet before the province? Our wisest course, I think, will be to adhere to the resolutions of the Provincial Council, and to suspend our judgment till some engineer from England, unbiassed by any previous local knowledge or influences, has made his report. Engineering considerations will alone influence his decision, and if he is of opinion that the 2soo yards tunnel need be no bugbear, let us boldly count the cost and see how we can best arrange to meet it. I am, sir, your obedient servant, NO PREJUDICE.