The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 758, 14 September 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1878.

Prior to the opening of the line through to Dunedin, those who should be authorities on such a matter were unanimous in the opinion that the difficulties on some portions of the road between Oamaru and Dunedin would prove a barrier to the satisfactory prosecution of the traffic. They were not in error. Already complaints are being made that the punctuality and despatch which obtained when goods were entrusted to the steamers have given place to apparent neglect aud§ vexatious delay. We have not heard anyone blame the management for this, and we think it would be unfair to do so. It is pretty well known that it will only be by extraordinary cutting and contriving that the line will be made to give public satisfaction as regards the carriage of goods. Goods left at the Dunedin station in the morning should at all events arrive the same day in Oamaru, and yet we are informed that a parcel forwarded to the Dunedin goods station on Thursday last did not reach here till to-day. Of course, no one ever expected that the line would be able to stand the pressure of heavy grain and wool traffic, but it was confidently believed that when the line was completed the very perfection of transportation of ordinary goods would be secured. As to the heavier freights, there will neither be necessity nor desire to carry them beyond Oamaru. If the railway department is desirous of working the Dimedin-Oamaru section of the line as advantageously as possible, they will not court the transportation of grain and wool from this district to Dunedin over such an eccentric line. In order to keep pace I with the ordinary business, it will be necessary to put on additional rolling stock and run a goods train. Here is a commentary on the respective merits of the steamer and the railway for the purposes of goods and passenger traffic : The Waitaki on Thursday last brought from Dunedin GG tons of cargo and 25 passengei-3, and this morning she brought GO tons of cargo and 15 passengers. This is one of the fruits of the short-sighted policy of constructing railways so as to bring them into competition with steamers. We understand that it ia the intention of the railway department to make every effort to prevent delay in the transport of goods from Dunedin. The traffic is sufficiently heavy to be worthy of every consideration, and will be so until we initiate that which will do much to secure the prosperity of Oamaru and district—the establishment of direct commercial relations with Great Britain.