The Press. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1870.

Press, Volume XVI, Issue 2156, 16 March 1870, Page 2

The Press. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1870.

The Northern Bail way is decidedly unlucky. It seems fated to be one of those things that are always going to be done. It has been a prominent topic during several sessions of the Provincial Council, resolutions respecting it have been carried, and a sum set apart for it out of the loan, but all to no practical effect. Last session, however, its construction was positively determined on; and the Council has now been summoned for a special session chiefly to give Government the necessary powers for proceeding with it without delay. But on the very first night a difficulty has occurred— not indeed of so serious a nature as has stood in the way hitherto, but one which, considering how long the subject has been under discussion, is a 'little surprising. Having agreed two years back that the railway should be made, the Council found themselves all abroad on the next question, which way it should go. Hitherto the difficulty has been a lack of money, now there is a lack of information. The Government propose one line ; various members, upon considerations more or less to the purpose, suggest others ; the majority are evidently puzzled by the variety of opinions between which they will be called on to decide; the Government complicate matters by not saying which of the deviations from the line of 1864 recommended in Messrs Bray and Tancred's report they intend to adopt; lastly, members who claim an intimate acquaintance with the Waimakariri assert that the river has undergone such changes since the date of that report as to invalidate its conclusions. Under these circumstances the Council resolved on seeking information at first hand ; and the matter stands postponed till Messrs. Bray and Tancred can give evidence as to the data on which their report was based, and generally on the whole subject of the railway. The only point definitely settled was that the railway should not go through Hagley Park. The Government proposed to take it from Addington station inside the western boundary of the Park, crossing the Avon near the Eendaltown bridge. The Provincial Secretary argued in support of this course that to go outside the boundary would involve the purchase of land valued by the Provincial Engineer at£l7oo, but by the owners — whose price experience proves to represent much more nearly that actually paid —at between £6000 and £7000 ; also that it would add an extra furlong to the length of the line, the cost of which would be better expended in carrying it that much further. But the feeling of the Council was against any encroachment on the Park; and it was elicited that to carry the line inside the boundary would require a diversion of the Lincoln road for about two chains. That appeared conclusive, and an amendment, striking out the words referring to Hagley Paik, was carried without division.

So far, then, the exact line of the railway has been, determined, but the remainder of the route, up to and across the Waimakariri, have still to be settled. As there is but a moderate sum available the object of the Council should be to get the most for the money by adopting the line which will combine the minimum of expense in bridges and the engineering works with the maximum of utility as a means of traffic. This, after all, is not a very difficult affair. Supposing the requisite data supplied the route which will best satisfy these conditions may be readily ascertained. "We hope the information given by the engineers this evening will be sufficient to enable the Council to come to some conclusion. Discussion is very desirable, no doubt, but there is a time for doing as well as talking. This .Northern Kailway haa been talked about long enough, and it is time now that something were done.