The Westport Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1873.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1082, 20 June 1873, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1873.

Tite inhabitants of Hokitika are bestirring themselves to induce the General Government to extend railcommunication from Cliristchurch to the West Coast. In fact, to form a main line of railway from Nelson to the Biuuuer and Greymouth, and thence, if Buch route should be found the best available, via Hokitika, and away through Brownings Pass, and by the Acheron Eiver and the White Cliffs to Cliristchurch, forming a juuctiou at Rolleston with the East Coast line of railway to Duncdin and Invercargill, and the Otago railways now in course of formation. To tiiis intent a committee has been formed in Hokitika, and co-oporalion sought among oth r West Coast communities. At Grcymoutli a deputation was cordially received, and at a largely attended meeting resolutions were adopted to the effect that the proposed connection of the chief towns on the

East and "West Coasts of the Middle Island by railway is desirable, and that the General Government should be asked to make the necessary surveys in'4>rder to ascertain the line offering the greatest advantages for such undertaking. On tho question of the particular route offering the best advantages, opinions varied, and although it was somewhat apparent that the delegates from Hokjtiko were specially pleading for the adoption of the route above indicated, an peculiarly favoring Hokitika inl crests, yet a strong disavowal was made of all intention to agitato on purely local grounds, and the delegates declared their only object to he the establishment of the best and least expensive railway communication between the two Coasts and their willingness to leave matters of detail to ho decided by competent authorities. On this basis of action a committee was formed at Gre\ mouth to cooperate with the Hokitika committee. Following thereon a deputation has visited Westport, and here also invited co-operation. The special arguments adduced in favor of Westport supporting the scheme are briefly these. The General Government having been induced to consider proposals for tho construction of the Nelson and Brunner line of railway, and the probability existing that such proposals will be accepted, the lino of railway communication between tlieso roints" will, as it crosses tho lnangahua River at Christy's, approach to within twenty seven miles of Westport. In 18GS a schemo was initiated by the Nelson Government for a line of railway from Nelson to Cobden with a branch line to Westport. Surveys and an estimate of cost of construction wero made and a report thereon laid before the Provincial Council, but, lacking either means or sufficient enterprise, the Nelson Provincial Government has never ventured to bring tho scheme to any practical issue. Recently a semiofficial agitation in favor of inland communication has arisen, resulting in the proposals now under consideration by the General Government. But the originators of tho movement, influenced purely by their Nelson instincts, anxious only to promote their own individual interests, as concerned in bringing increased trade and traffic to the port of Nelson, while adopting the original survey of 1868 so tar as indicating the line of route from Nelson to Cobden, have deliberately ignored all present idea of forming the projected branch line to Westport, upon the plea, as set forth in the report of tho Committee, ,; that the expensive works needed to connect Westport and tho impossibility of forming any reliable estimate of the amount reouirod for their execution prevent tl>o Committee from going into the question of constructing that branch. It is recommended to defer any proposal for this branch until the main line is completed." Whatever weight might be attached to such reasoning by shareholders in a private company, formed as at first proposed, none exists now that tho General Government has expressed a willingness, under favoring cireumstaLces, to construct the line as part and parcel of tho Public Works scheme, and hence the Hokitika Committee have a very strong argument in favor of their plea that Westport should co-operate in the present movement. Indeed it scarcely requires argument to prove that the construction of a branch liuc from Westport to the lnangahua Junction of the main trunk line, would materiallyenhanccthe value and utility of the Ngakawhau line, or, assuming that .the Ngakawhau Hue will be speedily constructed, an event which must ensue if common senso or justice prevail, then it will be equally as easy to demonstrate that tho value of the connecting liuk of railway between Westport and the lnangahua as a reproductive work will be as fully assured.

In continuing to uso all efforts to promote the Westport and Ngakawhau railway scheme, tho Buller Coal and Bail way Committee are, in point of fact, helping the cause of hoth the Nelson Inland Communication Committee and tho Hokitika Railway Committee. Their jmrnary and locally important task accomplished, ! the Westport Committee will but fulfil the wishes of the entire population of the Buller by striviug to obtain the extension of tho line to the Inangahua. The estimate of the excessive cost of this particular lino, which tho Nelson Committee chose to consider an effectual bar to its present construction, will probably be found on investigation to be much exaggerated. Referring to the official report made in 18GS by Mr Henry Wrigg, Civil Hngineor, upon the Westport branch of tho proposod Nelson and Cobden railway we find that his estimated cost varies from £22,828 for a line of 27 miles with a gauge of 3 feet 6 inches, to £140,252, with gauge of 5 feet 3 inches. It must be remembered however that since 1868, the country, then almost inaccessible, has been opened opened up by roads and that others aro in course of eonstruction which, to a great extent, will facilitate railway works and materially lessen the outlay thereon.

As to the question of the best direction for the the main line, it will bo wisely left to the decision of the General Government. Tho Nelson people at first favored an extension of tho Brunnerline by way of thoAmuri Pass and Huruuui River as the most direct link of connection with tho Canterbury system. Hokitikians favor the line by way of Browning's Pass, as

leading through tho best agricultural and most thickly populated country. There is one thing certain, the Canterbury government is not at present inclined to help either scheme by assistance from the Provincial treasury, but look on either as an ingenious attempt to divert a portion of the Canterbury Provincial Land Fund to Colonial purposes. The entire chances of success depend upon the liberality and wisdom of the General Government.