The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 93, 20 April 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1874.

We were glad to find tbe Grey River. Argus in a recent issue advocating the desirability of establishing, via Nelson, a second line of telegraph wires between the West Coast and the rest of the colony. The idea is not a new one, Mr Shepherd having brought it before the notice of the Provincial Council last year, but it has so happened that since then there has been no seriouß break in the communication until very recently, when, as is well known, the Una was down for eight days. The present system extends inland from the West Coast to the Lyell, so that there really is no very great additional distance to be spanned, more especially when it is remembered that as a matter of course the wires will, on the completion of the existing railway contracts, be extended to Foxhill, from which point to tbe Lyell is only some 75 miles. The present route of the telegraph is one that is exposed to a rrore than ordinary extent to the action of gales and floods. From Blenheim to the Amuri it travels along the stormy coast in the neighborhood of Cape Campbell and Kaikoura, where the full force of the south-east gales that in the wiuter season are so common is felt, while between Christchurch and Hokitika it is open to the still more seriouß attacks of flooded rivers, which, as the experience of a fortnight ago showed us, occasionally result in a very large amount of damage. The line from Nelson to the Lyell, on the contrary, would be sheltered nearly the whole way, and while protected from the wind would be out of reach of the ravages of the rivers, excepting at a few places where it could be easily repaired in the event of any accident happening to it. The country through which it would pass is free from snow-— thereby presenting a strong contrast to the Christchurch-Hokitika route — and is settled at intervals throughout the whole distance, so that the expense of keeping it in order would be, comparatively speaking, trifling. There can be now be little doubt that the railway through to the West Coast will shortly be undertaken, and ns the telegraph wires must accompany the railroad, to erect the former at once would only be anticipating by two or three years the expenditure that at the end of that period will bo not optional but necessary. The Christchurch office would be relieved of a great portion of its work, and there would be the almost certainty of uninterrupted communication with a part of the colony that is rapidly growing importance, for it is not likely that both lines would be down at the same time, or should such a contingency occur, the facilities for repairing tbat via Nelson would be so great, as we bave already shown, that any break might bo remedied in a few hours. We trust that the General Manager will see his way to recommending the immediate commencement of this important work.