WANGANUI.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 319, 8 May 1878, Page 4

WANGANUI.

(from our own correspondent.) Our railway is again a source of anxiety and inconvenience. Lately, through some disarrangement of the points at the town station, the large Fairlio- engine got oil the line, and getting it back was a tedious and laborious undertaking. But these minor accidents are scarcely worth notice, if we could only relieve our minds of ah anxiety as regards the imminence of impending catastrophes on some of the more precipitous and tortuous portions of the line. Such for instance as the Wangaehu, Tnrakina, and Matarawa sidings, whore the grade is less than 1 m 35 and the carves are five chain ones. There it is that some terrible disaster may some day be looked ior, notwitastandlng- the nJoptiou of every precaution. One day lately when descending the Wangaehu, the passengers were much alarmed by the repeated shrieks irom the engine, the momentarily increasing .speed of the train, and the rushing through the carriages of the guard as lie screwed down the brakes. Once a certain speed was attained on that portion ol the line the doomed train would rush on to destruction. It has been calculated by a professional and competent engineer, acquainted with the locality, and who has taken some pains to arrive at correct conclusions, that in the space of 5 years the cost of a new and different route to Marton, by which the distance would bo shortened some 7 miles, and all dangerous ascents and descents easily avoided, giving a comparatively easy and safe line, would be saved, calculating the wear and tear of rails, and roiling stock, and fuel requirements as between the present route and the shorter one proposed. There is no doubt but that the first two sections of . the WangamiiManawatu line will never safely and economically accomplish the traffic that may reasonably bo expected as the line is extended. Even now it is no uncommon occurrence for the train to stick coming up the Wangaehu, and for it to have to be taken up divided. I shudder to think of what may happen, and in my opinion most assuredly will happen, some of these days. I hope to live to see the present route through Turakina abandoned, and a new, more practicable, easily accessible and direct route to Marton established, by which Martou will be reached in an hour and a half, and passengers will not have their hearts in their mouths half the time as the train grinds and screams down those steep descents and round those sharp curves, or labours and struggles up the ascents. After some fearful mangling and loss of life has taken -place, then probably will a commission of enquiry be appointed, and the picsont supremeengineering bungle be condemned lor ever. It Is awful to consider the risks run daily, even' with the' most careful management. With a line ol its importance, the question of cost must not be considered, especially when reliable figures can be brought to demonstrate the position affirmed above. Doubtless a few of the sharpest curves may, and will be repaired, and the line generally rendered safer, through Mr Rotheram s efforts in that direction, but I maintain that Hie preliminary survey for a _ new and direct route should bo one ol the first official acts in connection with the line. If I remember aright, one ol the trial surveys, Mitchell s, 1 think, had an easier ascent, a more direct route, consequently a shorter distance, lower excavations, and only one short tunnel hear the top of Matarawa valley, not far from the Wangaehu, and or slightly increasing the gradient there, a through cutting could have answered the purpose, though woidd not have been .such a satisactory job. Some such line as this, is what I hope to see in existence before long, but greatly fear no commencement will be made, or agitation take place in the matter, until the present route will have been the scene of a " fearful catastropo. lam glad to see that the day of your connection with us by rail, is gradually approaching. Every section that is tendered lor, brings that time nearer. I have been over it so far as the Kai Iwi, and I must say I do not care much for the descent to the level ol that river, and the first approach from this side is not much better. But it may look better when the permanent way is laid. There is room for improvement in its present appearance. A day or two ago, a horse straying on the line through the swamp near town, got fearfully knocked about, which said accident was worked np by a'-penny-a-liner into a case of horrible cruelty, and innocent persons got blamed.