A RAILWAY TO CHRISTCHURCH

West Coast Times, Issue 308, 18 September 1866, Page 3

A RAILWAY TO CHRISTCHURCH

(to the editor or the west coast times.) Sib, — I had proposed addressing this letter to the Superintendent of the province, but thinking that the subject can be more thoroughly ventilated in a newspaper, I address myself to the public, through your columns, in the hope that I may awaken enquiry as to its feasibility — To wit : That of connecting the East and West Roasts of Canterbury by railway. I feel sure that if it can* be shown to be at all practicable, our present Superintendent will use every effort to carry it out. And I would ask whether such a Bcheme is more gigantic in proportion to our means than the Lyttelton and Christchurch Railway was to the then resources of #tbe province, which work, despite of croakers, lias already been of great advantage to Canterbury, and on its completion in a few months will change a present source of outlay into one of income. This, then, seems to be the time when we may fairly consider in what way to^extend our railway system : whether to the scattered population of the south, or to the less scattered but more accessible north, or to the largely populated and almost inaccessible west. I would ask the Government to at once preparo drawings and estimates for a line of railway from Christchurch to Hokitika, so that when the Moorhouse tunnel is completed, all may be ready to commence the work. I cannot pretend to give any correct estimates of cost and traffic, but will submit the following : — The whole distance would be about 150 miles ; of this a portion south of Christchurch is already made, and another length to the Malvem Hills coal mines" would at once be remunerative, from its economy of construction, and its traffic in coal, timber*, &c. I will, therefore, throw this length, say . thirty miles, out of my calculation, leaving 120 miles to be dealt with ; this I will estimate at LIO.OOO a mile, say L 1,200,000 ; this amount at 8 per cent, interest and sinking fund would cost L 96,000 per annum ; maintenance and working^expenses, cay LlOO a mile, or L 12.000. We have, therefore, a total annual cost of LlOB.OOO. Now Jet us look at the probable traffic. Hokitika and, Western ports at pre-

sent import 1000 tons weekly, besides cattle and live-stock -, the former amount would bo enormously increased if the risk and cost were diminished. Tho passenger arrivals have averaged 300 a week. Now I think we may fairly estimate that, with a good harbor in Lyttelton and a railway hence, the traffic in goods and stock would equal 1000 tons weekly. This amount, at L 2 a ton, wo\ild almost pay the total annual cost, if my figures are near the mark, and leave us a margin— passenger traffic both ways, and possibly some return goods. It seems superfluous to mention the value of good communication ; the system of inland traffic has made England tho powerful country she is. ' Her roads, canals, and railways, one following the other as trade grew with the increased facilities, and nil finding full employment: On the sea, also, steamers have been launched in numbers, but still the sailing ships "find abundant employment. And, in lact, wherever facilities are offered for trallic, that traffic will be created. In our hills we know of the existence of many valuable products to which capital could turn for investment. Lwid at present valueless would be turned into money, and, lastly, the unity of the province, and the economic working of the Government, would be facilitated. 1 fear many Westland people would think it against their interests to have land carringe competing with their shipping, but a very little consideration must show them that their interests lie in obtaining a sure and economic means of communication with the seats of commerce. With this conviction, I have troubled you with this rather lengthy letter, in the hope that other hands will continue the subject. Pbo&bess.