THE EAST AND WEST COAST AND NORTHERN RAILWAY.

Press, Volume XXX, Issue 4095, 11 September 1878, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE EAST AND WEST COAST AND NORTHERN RAILWAY.

The following is the report of Mr W. N. Hsu", engineer in "charge, on the scheme for establishing railway communication between the Ea*t and West Coasts and the north of fhlg island: — The survey of these railways has been continued during the psst year, and a great amount of valuable information collected. £g I bave not had time to consider the matter fnlly for myself, Mr Cerruthera has kindly given the following precis of the results β-rived at so far : — "At your request I give a short report on die surveys which have been made of the several lines between Christchurch and the "West Coast, Pieton, and Nelson. I was in strncted to bear in mind the necessity of connecting all these place with the railway jygtein of the South Island, so that the surreys have been treated as a whole, and an endeavour made to find the cheapest way of connecting them aIL "Browning's Paw—A eurrey ■was made through this pass by Mr Browning, bat it is for inferior to all the other passes, and need jjot be taken into further consideration. "Taipo Paw —Mr Campbell made a reeonnaiesince surrey of the passes at the head of the Teipo and Waimakwiri, showing a not very unfavourable line. If tho branch to the West Ooait were alone to be coniidered, I am inclined to think this line should be further explored. " Picton and. Nelson Linpg —The best direction for the line to the West Coast will depend on the line to Picton, from which it would be a branch. Several lines hare been tried for this, but they are all xery unfavourable, Mr Foy'e best line is shown in blue on toe map attached. It is tolerably favourable except for about twenty miles between the Wai*u and Xftikoura, which would be very costly and difficult to work. Mr Dobson's line, shown in red, by Cheviot, is also very costly for about ten miles, but lam inclined to think it superior to Mr Foy'e on account of it* lower summit-level. If either of these lines be adopted, I think the West Coast would be best reached by the Taipo Pass already mentioned, or by the Hope Pass as furveyed by Mr Foy, and Lake Sumner and the HnrunuL - - :

"A separate line would be required for Seleon. One line from Nelson to the Grey, at Oobden, was surveyed very folly by Mr Rochfert, and another examined by tbe Happy T*Uev to Blenheim. The latter would beet WBg JTeleon into raflway'coimnnnieation with tfee rest of the. island, bat would be very ewtly and d ffiiult to work. A third way of seeching Picton and -Nelson is now being examined by Mr For. It 13 to follow the Wauu to the paw at Cannibal Gorge. From the summit, lines can be run as shown on the plen to Kelwn, Pieton, and Greymouth. I am, satisfied this will , be found by far the cheapest way of connecting these three places with the South Island railway system, and it will opsn up whatever good land there w, which is, however, very limited in quality. The gradients will be more favorable than by say other route. The objection to this plan irtbat all traffic between Picton and Ohristchnrob. will have to be taken over the summit ah Cannibal Gorge, a height of nearly 3000 feet, and the distance between Grey mouth and Oaristchurch. • would be fully sixty miles further than by the Taipo Pass. In view of the small probable .traffic, I am disposed to think this Cannibal Gorge scheme is the best, as it meets the requirements at a cost far below that of any other. If, however, even a moderate tranlp is looked for, I think the three distinct lines would be better — i.c , by Taipo to the "West Coast, by Cheviot to Picton, and by Happy Valley to NeUon." Mr Foy, who ha* been on the survey of the But and West Coast and Northern Bulways for upwards of two years, is now engaged in collating the information already obtained. This will enable as to determine on further operations daring next summer, should the Government decide on proceeding with the work, a course I worui strongly recommend. At the explorations for both lines in the direction of the Hope and Amuri saddles are tolerably complete," T think attention should be directed to the Waimakariri and Taipo route for the West Coast lice. Geographically this is one of the best yet proposed for simply connecting the two coasts: it comes nearest the centre of the Island of all the routes suggested nortJr of Mount Cook. With reference to the extension to Picton, Mr Dobson's line isems entitled to further consideration. I think the country ehould be thoroughly exTjtared, bo as to ascertain if there is a poesitgßsjor red swing the heavy work shown on vSifiectiorir ' ' '

The location of the main lines north and TOffcwarcie is* particularly difficult. The shape ettfceMand points to one. main central line ffittth and south, with branches to the harSora on each side; bnt the character of the eoantry precludes the adoption of such a system. I believe that ultimately there will be a main line up each side, joining at Inverctrgill and,Picton or Blenheim. The course of the western line would be from tVie termination of the present' railway at Kingston, via Jjrankton, Cromwell, Lake Wanaka, and Haaat Pass and Biverto the Wett Coast; thence along the coast to Qreymouth ; from Crreymouth to Foxhill and Nelson by Mr BochfoitVJjine and the present railway; and from thenoe via Havelock to' the'junction with the Eaat Coast line at Picton or Blenheim. From the map it will be seen that the. ' line just described goes in almost a direct line through the centre of the southern part of the island, from the Bluff to Lake Wanala. The Haaefe Pasf, over whioh it goer, is the lowest in the range, being only about. 1700 feet above sea level, against 3000 the next lowest* Th* East Coast extension from Amberiey to Picton will probably follow either Jfe Fijf't or Mr Dabaoo'e line.- t The line na lake Wakatipu above described is unfavorably situated at regards the rest of the island, and for a great part of the, j&tasoe—viz., from Engeton-to Cromwell— tie country is too rough for olose settlement, consequently this section will only be made as aoooneetion between the southern and midlead raihray -systems, or. Jto.. complete the through communication between Southland aodthe West Coast. If the Haast Pass is adopted aa a crossing place in the main range, ,ifc can. behest reached by the Otago Central Taieri) route now beinfe surveyed, and aituutdj by the Waiteki V»Uey and the JKhdis "Pass." The litter, a route to which Hnaeia"- attention baa not. hitherto been given, » ferourably aitoated as regards the centre of 4he island, and it tape a considerable extent .. *& good country in the Upper "Waitaki and He£eniie Plains; but the engineering difficulties are somewhat formidable, it being ne«mwt to cross a range 3SOO feet high before Hacking the Clutha watershed. The Waitaki Valley and Lindis Pass line csnnot of ceurse, M substituted for the Otago Central, as it u*re* out the Strath Taien, Maniototo, Ida Valley, and Manuherikia Plains, as well as the -principal centres of mining in Otago. Ite ■ban object will be to give direct oommunioa--tiffli between the Oamaru and Timaru distoiets, and the southern parts of the West - If oae connection only is expected to be ttad* between the East and Wett Coaete, Probably the Waimakariri and Taipo route is . tie best; but if there is any chance of two, ; I iboold be inclined to recommend the Hope and Haast Paw routes, and the former, as offering readiest communication between the pretest eentretr'of population, shoold be confirst-.- I ehouid, however, remind J«tt the line will be coeUy to make and itmattio. It will have i> tunnel a mile in ' fcegth. at the turnout, and other heavy works,

distance from Greymouth to Chriitohurch by the Hope Pitta route is about 150 miles. It ia just possible it will piy to carry coals this distance by rail; but they cannot be taken much farther, and certainly will not bear the cost of transhipment at Ljttelton. Notwithstanding these objections, the importance of providing ready means of communication by land between the East and West Coast entitles the line to a favourable consideration.

With reference to the extension o£ the main line from Amberley to Picton, I do not think the work is urgently called for at present. There is comparatively little good country to open up, and the through passenger traffic which the railway is especially ilitended to accommodate, will certainly not pay for its construction for many years to come.