THE WOODEN RAILWAY.

Southland Times, Issue 566, 21 September 1866, Page 2

THE WOODEN RAILWAY.

(to the editor of the southland times.) Sib, — At the Bluff railway meeting, recently held in Invareargill, one of the speakers i» reported to have said that the wooden railway is for little use, and might be used as firewood. It is a pity when men of sound sense permit themselves to talk rashly. The wooden railway ought not to be cut up for firewood, for at least five years to come. I was never in favor of the wooden railway : I thought that the idea was an unfortunate one, and that it would sooner or later lead to disaster : but the wooden railway has been made, and at an enormous cost too, and the Government will be seriously to blame if it neglect to take all the profit out of it which it can get ; at the same time it is quite clear that nature never intended white pine rails to carry an engine of 15 tons weight ; and that the system of working ought to be altered immediately. The lino ought to be worked by horses, that is, the settlers ought to work it with their own horses. To prepare the way for horses feet would not be a rerycoetly busineßß, if the proper

niisfchod ware ftdopkd, that {«> io oordurdy the apuco betwooh the vails by pieces of rough timber four feet long, and aftervrards bUnd the oords with gravel. After that vras dove, let th* iettlera work tho lins with their own horses, charging them (say) £1 par day for the use pf a truck. By that method, tho wooden railway, instead of being a burden, would actually, bring in a small revenue to tho Q-overnraent. All confusion on the line could easily be pre* ventotl, by making it a rule, that all trucks travelling southward, would hare to be at the terminus before noon, and no trucks travelling northward to start before 1 p.m. Trusting that speakers at future railway meetings will take a iarioua and common sense view of things, and not allow themselves to talk rashly, I remain, Sir, yours &0., VIiTOB. Waikivi, 19th September, 1866.