REPORT ON NELSON AND FOXHILL RAILWAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 174, 21 July 1873, Page 2

REPORT ON NELSON AND FOXHILL RAILWAY.

Mr Cakruthers to the Hon. Minister for Public Works. Nelaon, 10th December, 1872. I have the honor to report that I have examined the line of the proposed railway from Nelson to Foxbill, and have collected such information as I have been ablo to regarding the probable revenue to. be expected. The lino has been laid out so as to run for some distance along the coast, which is here very exposed, the sandstone cliffs rising perpendicular by from high watermark. The cost of constructing this portion would be so great tbat I think it desirable to try an inland lintn crossing the raDge of hills which surrounds Nelson at a low point known as Jenkins' Saddle. The inland line will have a steep gradient of 1 iv 33 for two miles, and will pass through treacherous slippery clay, so that it is by no means certain that it will prove a better line than that along the coaat; but I think it would be rash to begin the latter until the other has been fully examined. I have therefore instructed Mr Austin to run a trial line over Jenkins' Saddle and along St Vincent-street. Until this matter is decided, the position of the first six miles of the line must remain undetermined. From the twelfth to the seventeenth miles, a change in the line will be required to avoid danger from the Wai-iti river, which is here cutting away its banks, and threatening to change its course; but, as For remainder of news see fourth page.

the altered line runs through flat open country, ifc will not take long to mark ifc on the ground and prepare plans, so that the length from the sixth mile to Foxhill might be prepared at once for public tender. The iron work for the bridges over the Wairoa river and Eighty-eight creek should be ordered in England as soon as the plans can be drawn, and the wood work and erection let by public tender. In the meantime steps should be taken to acquire the land from the sixth mile to Foxhill, so that no delay may arise on this account. The only difficulties of construction which occur are those met with in getting out of Nelson and the crossing of the Wairoa River. In other respects the works will be very easy. REVENUE. The country through which the railway passes is principally agricultural, and contains a population of about 11,000, including Nelson. At the Foxhill terminus and beyond it there is a good deal of hush land, from which a large business in timber may be confidently expected. The railway will enable Foxhill to compete successfully with all other sources of supply j and the greater part of the sawn timber, firewood, fencing, &c, required for Nelson and the surrounding country will be carried from there by rail. It is very difficult to estimate the passenger and general traffic. I have put down the former as equivalent to the movement once over the railway of the population of the district. This is very much less than would be looked for on a longer line, or on one where the population was collected at both termini, instead of principally at one only, as is the case here. The following will be found, I think, a very moderate estimate: — £ Timber, sawn 20,000 c b.m., at ls 6d ... 1500 Firewood, fencing, &c, 6000 tons, at 6s 8d 2000 Agricultural Produce, 4000 tons, at 5s ... 1000 General Merchandise, 4000 tons, at 5s ... 1000 Passengers, 11,000, at 4s 2200 Mails, parcels, &c 300 £8000 The working expenses, including renewals , will be about £7000. I have, &c, John Carruthebs, Engineer-in-Chief. The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington.