CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 197, 19 August 1879, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the <•' Evening Mail " S. IE - — I have read the report of Mr Blair, the Eu«ineer in charge, and have waited to see if anyone more able than I am would mnke any remark upon its falsities, and fhow how that ingenious engineer has labored, together with the Minister for Public Works, to exclude Nelson from the benefit of the railway scheme, therefore I hope you will spare space for the following remarks —Mr Blair says « nearly all the country on the western side of the range is covered with dense timber, but the good flat land of any kind is comparatively nT ; ' e also refers to the re P orfc °" f Mr Ca!cutt in 1873. Mr Blair rode through from the Coast once on horseDJJcfc, and was only three days in the district, and Mr Calcntt rode to and fro over tbe Koundell hills, and nearly all in rainy weather, and then these gentleman report that they have carefully examined and know the capabilities of the country, which is, to say the least of it, monstrously absurd. He admits that the whole country, from the "West Coast to Nelson, abounds in timber and minerals of all kinds, especially the coal, yet in the face of that lie asserts that the railway, if made, would never pay. I admit that if the line is taken where he recommends, namely, to the Top House, it would never pay, but if taken through either Hope and Motupiko or Tadmor and Owen, I assert that in a few years either line would pay as well as any in the whole colony. As to the distance, Mr Blair is as faulty a? he is about the route. The distance to be made from Foxhill to Nelson Creek (where the line will shortly end) via Top House is 162 miles ; via Motupiko and Hope 148 miles ; via Tadmor and Owen 141 miles. He mentions the route by Pigeon Valley, Dovedale, and Stanley Brook, which shows me that he is totally ignorant of tbe topography of the above valleys, as he is of the whole of the district, as there is no such a route nor can be. If all his statements are as unreliable as that one, his report is not worth much. He goes on to state, " the good country opened op by tbe propose J lines is comparatively limited, and none of it is in the bands of the Crown." I don't know what Crowo lands there are in Marlborough, but if tho iine be taken through Motupiko or Tadmor Valleys there would be enough to pay for the cost of tbe whole line from Foxhill to the Grey, but if taken over the Top. hoaee hills (which would be blocked by snow three months in every year) there would be no land for sale nor any traffic for the line for a disiance of about five miles wi(b very heavy gradients; whereas along the other two routes would, soon be one continuous Btriog of settlements, with abundance of minerals of all kinde, and easier gradients. Therefore the Nelson people ought to take tbe matter iu hand, organise a survey party, end decide upon the rccst prcfrable line themselves, anJ uot leave it to a few and interesteJ parties 10 be taken where there would be no traffic for the liue and no commerce to the port. I again reiterato that tbe most beneficial route for Nelson and (he roost cheaply constructed is from Foxhill through Pretty Bridge Valley to Motueka, Tadmor, and Owen Valloys, to Buller, then Inangabua, Re6fton, aud Grey, the distance as above being 141^ miles, and the cost about £850,000, iocluding cost of bridge across the Buller river. I am, &c, Erick Orb. Nel3on, August 9, 1879.