The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1863.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XX, Issue 1131, 12 September 1863, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1863.

The question of leasing the Christchurch and Ferrymead Bailway is still undecided. On Thursday night, on the motion of Mr. Glark, the Provincial Council passed resolutions virtually condemning the proposed bargain with Messrs. Holmes and Co. It has been often said that figures can be made to prove anything; but no attempt has been made to shew that the tender of Messrs. Holmes and Co. is a satisfactory one for the province. On the other hand, both in the Council and out of it, figures have been adduced to show that a very large profit would be made by the contractors under the proposed agreement, and very little advantage secured for the public. "We are glad to find that the discussion of the question has caused the Government to pause before they commit themselves to a step which may deprive the public of the fair and just return due to foresight and enterprise. For our own parts, we would much rather see the management of the railway at first in the hands of Messrs. Holmes and Co. than any one else; not only on account of their experience in such business, but because many causes of collision and annoyance might be avoided if, during the continuance of the tunnel works, the same contractors had charge of the whole railway. But the Government is bound to see that the bargain made is fair for the public. We do not blame the contractors for trying to make the best agreement they can for themselves. But we should blame the Government if they did not protect the public interests, or if they accepted the tender on the statement alone of the tenderers. We do not suppose that this will be the case.

With all deference to the Council, there appears to us an error—or perhaps an omission—in the temarks made upon the matter, which is of great moment. Any one reading the report of the debate would conceive that the great object to be attained is the payment of a large yearly rental by the contractors. Now it seems to us that in leasing the line, the Government should first calculate the interest on the amount expended and the amount of the sinking fund for that portion of the provincial loan. The estimated cost of wear and tear should be added, and the amount thus arrived at should be the annual rental demanded. Any competition should be confined to the proposed tariff of charges and to the facilities afforded for booking baggage and merchandise through from Lyttelton to Christchurch and vice versd. The railway should repay the cost of its formation to the public chest, but no Wore. As soon as the debt incurred, for its formation has been liquidated, charges on traffic should be limited to an amount that will pay the cost of maintaining and working the line. Last session the Council decided on making the Ferry mead branch of the Lyttelton and Christchurch railway in order to facilitate business until the tunnel could be completed. Unless business is facilitated, the money spent on this branch has been thrown away, so far as the interests of the general public are concerned. It is even more important that the contractors for working the railway should undertake to conduct the whole traffic through between Christchurch and Lyttelton, than that they should be limited to the lowest possible charges. If they would undertake to deliver goods given into their charge in either town at a given direction in the other, the Government would do wisely in allowing such charges as would liberally remunerate them for their trouble and outlay. .But unless such an agreement is made, the public will be as badly off as ever, and the uncertainty which is now worse than the cost will remain in full force. Men of business would not object to pay a fair rate per ton, if this were the first and last charge, and if they could reckon upon punctual and speedy delivery. The steamers should be in the same liands as the wharves and railroad; and the carting now necessary in Christchurch should be done by the same carriers. It will soon be evident enough that, although the site of the railway station is convenient for the general business of the railway, a small station for goods and passengers must be established in a central position "in Christchurch. Merchants will not long endure the journey down to the present station, while the Custom House might be situated in a more convenient locality. The locomotive of course must be taken off at the general station, but there is no reason why detached carriages should not be drawn up one of the streets by horses on rails to a central terminus. This is the plan pursued with great success in many American towns. We hope that it will be adopted here. In the meantime the carriage from the Railway station should be undertaken by the contractors who lease the line.