THE WELLINGTON TO WANGANUI LINE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5358, 30 May 1878, Page 3

THE WELLINGTON TO WANGANUI LINE.

The opening of a regular daily commuuicatiou between this and; Wanganui appears to be a more difficult matter than was expected by many persons. There aro a good many obstacles which cannot be overcome with certainty at present, and it will take time to ensure the punctuality that is desirable. The traffic on the railway, both passenger and goods, is highly satisfactory, and. there is promise of a steady increase in the receipts. Things do not yet run quite smoothly, but plenty of allow•V; anco must be made at first. At Wangaehu the engine occasionally has a difficulty m astending a steep grade, and the other day passengers were amused at a process which had to be resorted to. The engine could not take a rather heavy train up the incline, so the driver fell back on the old expedient of making a rim at it. Having descended to the level, full speed : ahead was the word, and the engine , being helped along :, by the impetus afforded by the rapidly moving weight behind it, rushed ■ the ascent and reached the summit. ’ The iron, horse was treated very much in the same way as a coachman handles his team when coming to a nasty pinch. , Speaking of coaches, it will be well to say that Hastwell, Macara, and Co. intend to largely increase their number of vehicles, and have given an order to hlr. William Black to construct the bodies for several eight-passenger coaches. The firm have imported the running gear, which includes wheels, poles, &c., and the local builders will provide the bodies, two of which are to be ready for • the road shortly. .. It is probable that the line will not bo regular in bad weather until spare coaches aro provided at the Ohau and Waikanao Rivers, the two worst that have to be crossed, for it would bo impossible to drive through either of them if there were a fresh in the river and a high .. tide. Of course the passengers could be ferried across, but the' punt at the. .Ohau has reached an infirm old age, and leaks so much that a man has to bale while crossing, and this does not prevent passengers from getting wet. This is a matter that: could.be easily remedied, either by repairing the punt or providing a new one. For some days the beach has been in capital order, the sand being hard, for the tide suited and the sea was not troublesome. Although the line generally has not yet got into thorough order, the trip from Wellington to'Wanganni in fine weather is a most agree- ‘ able one, and has been thoroughly enjoyed by a large proportion of those who have travelled during the lust week.. Not a few were disap- ’ pointed at finding that the refreshment rooms at Halcombe have not been completed, and this necessitates a prolonged abstinence from eating and drinking, unless the traveller should have a sandwich tin and a flask, or something 1 .of that sort. • One thirsty soul complained. of this very bitterly the other day, and when the train stopped within a short distance of an hotel he. anxiously asked whether he would have time to run up and get a drink before a start was made. Upon being told that he would be left behind if he tried it, he looked wistfully at the hotel, and sorrowfully murmured to himself. Still ao near, and yet so far.

A run to Wanganui overland should not be neglected by excursionists, for a great deal: of highly interesting andivery picturesque country is passed through, and many of, the views are ■ exceedingly beautiful.