CATLINS RAILWAY.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 237, 24 January 1879, Page 6

CATLINS RAILWAY.

■ TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — The question is continually asked, '"" When is the 'Catlins River railway to > commence V and no one is found able to ■ answer. The general opinion is that iL ■will commence soon, and I trust such will " be the case, for the inhabitants of South Molyneux are very badly off for conveyance of any kind, Balclutha being at - present the nearest --station for sending to market. The importance of the Catlins railway-can scarcely' be over- ~~ rated. Apart from its passing through a ' thickly settled agricultural district, it will ' open up one of the finest arid most - valuable timber districts in Otago, which will prove a great saving to the Govern--1 ment in providing the very best railway timber that can be got anywhere, at a • cheap rate, for the South Taieri and other • inland railways. If carried through by T Waikava to Invercargill, it will open up about 600,000 acres of Crown lands, the extra price for which, after the railway is made, would cover the cost of the whole • work. It would also shorten the distance ' from Dunedin to Invercargill at least 25 30 miles. As to the proposed route r from Invertiel to Catlins River, by Glen- • omaru, the Government has undoubtedly • chosen the very best that could be got, it 1 being by far the shortest and cheapest, • the best gradient, arid will accommodate ■ more settlers than any of the other routes 'talked of. Being almost on the boundary : line between the Puerua and South Molyneux districts, it will accommodate the whole of these two districts. The Waite- ! peka people complain of being left out in the cold, but I think without any great 'reason. After all, it is but a small dis'trict, and I think the Southern Trunk , - 'Railway goes through part of Waitepeka, ;--■ rand the Four Mile Creek Station being t only •about 'three miles from Messrs " Somervilie's Mills, ; where nearly all the : .'tradi of that little district is concentrated^ -Has -no great cause to grumble. !But the - vicLea-^f 'takirfg the Catlins Railway through Waiteipeka j| and up' 'the Prierua to Catlins, •^£s : s6 absurd' as to require no further comment. The proposed route from Jnvertiel <31enomaru-is the proper route, arid \*pill command a considerable traffic so

1 soon as the. first section is completed. The station being alongside the main road j at Glenomaru bridge will be very convenient" for the Pnerua and South Molyneux districts, and would, as soon as tlie first section is finished, command a considerable amount of traffic. 1 understand r.he Glenomaru mills is to be put in iirsfcclas3 working order, second to notio in the province, and will at once become a lai^go feeder to the railway, and prove of great benefit to th^ settlers. No time should be lost in pushing on this line to Catlins River, as it will open up a large field of the best railway timber in the Oolony, and be an immense saving to the Government. — I am, &c. , Pueiuja.