THE RAILWAY FROM NELSON TO FOXHILL.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 927, 15 February 1872, Page 2

THE RAILWAY FROM NELSON TO FOXHILL.

The following is extracted from an excellent letter, which appeared in the " Colonist" of February 6, written by Air Donald M'Gregor, of Matakitaki. There are two ways of looking at this railway question: one way from a purely commercial point of view, that is, that railways ought to make a profit over and above all expenses. The other to view railways as a substitute for the ordinary roads, which may entail a eerraiu annual loss, but which is more than counterbalanced by the great advantages derived. We never speak of dray-roads supporting themselves, though yearly they entail considerable sums for repairs. Why then apply one doctrine to dray-roads, and another to roads with rails on theni ? Both are national property, and should be treated similarly. If a railway entails an annual loss, but that loss no greater than the amount we would have to pay to keep a dray-road of equal length in repair, I am inclined to think it has answered its purpose. The province pays annually something like £IOOO to the Waimea Koad Board, and from rates there are at least other £1500; suppose then we lost by the Foxhill line say £IOOO a-year, this would liberate £IOOO a year now absorbed in keeping the dray-road in repair. It will be said that we must still keep the ordinary road in repair, which is true ; but as nearly all the heavy traffic would be by rail, the cost of these repairs would be reduced to a minimum, which could be paid for out of the ordinary rates.