THE PROPOSED TRANS-CONTINENTAL RAILWAY OF AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5434, 27 August 1878, Page 3

THE PROPOSED TRANS-CONTI-NENTAL RAILWAY OF AUSTRALIA.

A correspondent of the Queenslander of the 27th ultimo throws out the following ideas on the above subject:— The all but unanimously favorable opinions expressed by the public Press regarding the expedition recently started under the auspices of the proprietors of the Queenslander are doubtless a source of considerable gratification to the promoters. Such an expression of goodwill and approval from so many different sources may be taken as a certain index that the question of constructing a trans-continental railway has ripened very considerably within the last few years, and also that, by the time the present expedition has returned, after completing the principal task set before it—the acquiring a knowledge of the nature of the country to be traversed—it is not, we think, too much to expect that the scheme for the formation of a company for constructing a line of railway will soon assume, a definite shape. Bearing this in mind, any information or remarks tending to throw any light on the subject of the proposed line will doubtless help to familiarise the public mind ou the bearings of this important question. In the published programme of the expedition there are two features which are especially worth consideration. The first of these is the starting point, and the other is the terminus. Looking at the topography of the country, it is very evident that the selecting of a suitable starting ; point will be a matter of very considerable importance. Erom the knowledge already in our possession regarding the nature of the country over which the future line will p-»ss, it appears very plain that the starting point (Blackall) will not be the most advantageous. It will, under the most favorable circumstances, judging from the rate of progress made during the last four years, be many years before the Central Railway will have been constructed to a point on the same longitude as Blackall. It is equally clear that, whether the Traus-Oontineutal Railway be constructed by a private company or by the South Australian and Queensland Government combined, it will have to be a continuation of either of the existing lines. Under these oiroumstauoes, it manifestly would appear that tho proper point of departure would be Roma or some other point in that neighborhood. Such a line would cross sufficiently far to the south as not to interfere with the Central Railway, yet open up an enormous tract of territory in the southern section of Queensland, which can never become properly available as grazing country except through the aid of the iron horse. So far as at present known there would be few, if any, engineering difficulties to contend against on this route. It is more than probable that water oould be procured'in this line of country, by sinking, without much trouble. The diamond drill, which is now coming so much into use, would doubtless be found invaluable for this purpose. The question of the terminal point is oven more important than the point of starting. For the terminus, there is no locality anywhere in tho north-west that can at all compare with the Roper River. In the first place, it would make the line nearly 400 miles shorter than to Port Darwin. It is, without any exception, the finest river on the whole of the Australian continent. It is navigable for vessels of the largest tonnage for over 100 miles. Some years ago, when the steamer Orneo, a vessel of 1000 tons, had been chartered by the Adelaide Government to carry telegraphic material to the Northern Territory, there was no difficulty found in navigating the Roper up to the junction of tho Wilton, fully more than the distance stated from tho coast. There do not seem to be any sandbanks or any other impediments to render tho navigation at all difficult. In addition to those favorable circumstances, tho Roper is one of the very few Australian rivers that has no bar at its entrance. The fertility, and extent of tho country on the Roper have been spoken of in the highest terms by Leichhardt, its discoverer, as well as by all those who have traversed the country since. There is no doubt the Roper country is destined at some future add no distant day to become one of tho moat import mt portions of the Northern Territory. Tho climate seems to be very healthy, and there is an unlimited extent of the finest and most fertile soil, with a waterway to the sea exceeding anything else wo have in the colonies. If this country were once opened up, It is almost certain that the Adelaide Government would be more than recouped for the capital already forested in the Port Darwin territory. From the above considerations, there can be very little doubt that it would bo well worth the consideration of the leader of the Queenslander expedition to rlevoto a short time, while en, route to Port Darwin, to an examination, bow ever cursory,.of the country at the head of tho navigation of tho Roper. Under any circum.

stances it may be considered as almost a certaintythat, if a cattle and horse trade should be initiated between the- "Northern 1 Territory and India, some point of the ll'>per, as being; the centre of an enormous extent of splendid grazing country, must occupy a very prominent if not the principal place. In jotting the above remarks there is not the slightest intention of cavilling at the idea of making Port Darwin the terminus. The only object in view is, in however little a measure, to assist in ventilating a subject which must be admitted to be one of the most, if not the must, important ever approached in the Australian colonies.