WAIKATO LINE OF RAILWAY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4237, 14 March 1871, Page 3

WAIKATO LINE OF RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir, — Having casually observed in your morning contemporary an editmial article on the Waikato Railway, I beg the privilege of your paper to offer a few remarks on this subject. The writer makes a. v«ay decided statement, thafc Mr. Wrigg taa writtett to

i the Waikato Railway, stating as his opinion, " That Tuakau is not the proper terminus." Now, I do not think that Mi. Wrigg has made such a statement to the Government, because at the time the article alluded to appeared Mr. Wrigg had not been over either of the proposed lines of railway. Mr. Wrigg, having heard a good deal of grumbling from disappointed parties, as there always is in such cases, may have written to the General Government to ask if a aurrey of any other line than that by Tuakau'was wished. By all means let the proper line of railway be determined upon by practical railway engineers, and practical matters bearing upon it. What is wished ia the line of railway which will ultimately be most beneficial to the country at largo. I shall try to review the two lines as impartially as I can. First, the line spoken of to Point Russell : It -would be necessaiy to cut a tunnel through the Eazorback or some of its offshoots. Then, after it passes Pokeuo, it goes through a swampy, sterile country, unfit for occupation. Perhaps, Mr. Editor, you will be able to tell us how much money it cost to construct that road over the swamp between the Queen's Redoubt and Point Russell — a road along which two drays meeting can scarcely pass each other, and were auy animal to fall over the embankment drowning would be the probable result. Then a separate line of road would require to be constructed for the railway at some distance from the existing one, so as to prevent the calamitous results which would be certain to take place, from cattle becoming furious from the noises of the engines and train were tbe railway line to pass along any embankment at all near to the one along which they were being driven. Once at Point Russell, there would be the greatest difficulty, if not impossibility, of getting sufficient space for a terminus. As for the township of Mevcer, that is only in name, there being no land to build a township upon. The line thence to Ngaruawahia, along the east bank of the river, I am not jj sufficiently acquainted with to offer an opinion upon. Let us now consider the line to Tuakau. There is not an engineering difficulty along the whole line. Then, it passes near to and through scveial of the most fertile districts — Mauku, Pukekohe East and West, and Tuakau. all at present settled by many iudustvious families, but capable of supporting a large population. In Pukekohe is to be met with a supply of the best puriri, fit for all the purposes of a railway — timber of such an age and quality as will last a lifetime. Vt Tuakau is one of the finest townships in the province, and many farms of the best character belonging to the Government, all surveyed and ready for immediate settlement. Besides, the Government possesses a railway reserve, large enough for all purposes. Once at Tuakau, there is an excellent landing for river purposes where a bridge could easily be thrown across the channel of the iiver to an island, and from that to the opposite bank cither by a small bridge or by means of piles, as the stream is here so shallow that one could easily wade across this narrow flow of water. Once across the Waikato at this place, the lino to Ngaruawahia might run as straight as an arrow after passing through a gorge in the hills Avhich flank the river. Should it be considered expedient to cross the Waikato by a line of railway supported on piles, this could readily be done about half a mile or a mile above Tuakau, as the stream is there very shallow, about live or six feet at low water and eight or ten at flood-tide. The railway line could easily pass up along the north bank of the river to this spot. Tuakau, being only a few miles below Point Russell, besides possessing so many advantages over it, will be equally valuable for other purposes connected with the settlement and peace of the Waikato country. It can never serve any useful purpose, nor further the object in view — viz , that of getting the best line of railway — for Waikato bettlers either to express their opinions or to write on a subject regarding which 95 per cent, of them are ignorant, having never once been over the district of Tuakau, nob to mention the proposed line of railway through it and the adjoining settlements onwards towards Drury, which is at present surveyed. A. B.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Would you .inform me through the medium of your paper whether it is according to the Highways Act for a Hoacl Board to post their assessment list behind the door of a private house ? By doing so you will greatly oblige A Ratepayer. [The clause in the Highways Act, IS7I, that provides for the compilation of an assessment list, says: "And shall cause such list to be open at all reasonable times to the inspection of any person interested, at some public place within the district." We presume that a position behind a door of a private house would scarcely bear the appellation of a " public place." — Ed.]

A Misoppedist : Singleby Singleford cannot bear children. When they are brought into dessert, he mutters to himself that he likes olives, but not olive branches. Tit for Tit: Ladies who beguile the tedium of a railway journey by tatting should travel on loop lines. A deserted damsel struck her lover with a poker, exclaiming with sobs, "You have broken my heart, and I'll break your head, sir." Careful mothers invariably provide the nurse./ Hith Mrs. Johnson's American Soothing Syrup, -which applied to tho gums, affords immediate relief to "teething." It is pleasant and acceptable to the child, and free from any narcotic. Dining nearly half a century it has been on« of the important items for the nursery. None genuine without the name of " Barclay and Sons, 95, Varringdon-street," is on the «t*mp. Sold by all chemists, at 2s. 9d. a bottlo.— Adv.