The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIII, Issue 793, 16 June 1860, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times.

Saturday, June 16, 1860. It is the common custom ..of divines and moralists to turn to good account the circumstances of the time as they occur, and to avail themselves of passing* events to point a moral or adorn a tale. We can hardly do wrong to follow so good an example, and to avail ourselves of the state of the weather during the past fortnight or three weeks, and its results so far as they affect the communication between Lytteltori and the Plains, as a means of influencing public opinion upon that everlasting subject of discussion.

The. rain we have experienced for the last fortnight has had the usual effect of depressing1 people's spirits, as well as impeding- their .business; and as a natural consequence has cast a dull hue over tlieir own and their country's prospects. As might be expected, the railroad is still talked of, and of course the views respecting* it are tinged more or less with the prevailing sombre tints; its opponents gather courage, and the timid and doubtful in their opinion become more timid and more doubtful still.

This is the first time since the Railway scheme has been fairly brought before the public, that the opportunity has been afforded them of gaining by personal observation a practical experience of the weakness and insufficiency of our means of communication and transport for carrying' out an enlarging trade between port and plains. We recommend it: to the notice of those who consider the railway an unnecessary absurdity, or at the best a scheme which maybe wanted some twenty years hence. We beg some of these gentlemen to go now, and see and judge for themselves. If they will take the trouble to walk or ride round the Sumner road from the ferry, they will see at Sumner (if they get so far over the flat without being bogged), some fifteen or twenty craft bar-bound ; and if they enquire of the men on board, they will find that they have been there from two to four .weeks, and may be there for as many more. Having gained this information, let them proceed on by the far-famed Sumner road, tho puny offspring of eight years' patching and tinkering and, many thousands of pounds outlay. They may by good chance overtake some adventurous carter carrying a load of perhaps two bags, of flour, who will consider himself fortunate if he reaches Lyttelton without losing horse or dray or load, or maybe the whole three. A good road for traffic—is it not ? A fortnight of wet weather has shut it up; another such fortnight and it will be unfit for use till the hot nor-westers of spring dry it, and the tinkerings of the Government gang, fill up its holes and clear the fallen banks. It is on this river and thi3 road that we are to be dependent for an indefinite period for the means of transport for the traffic of the country. True, there isv the bridle-path; we can ride and walk over it, and even. pack our trunks over it forthe present, though ifc is rapidly becoming a water-course from the effect of broken culverts and falling banks. But we may dismiss the bridle-path in considering means of transport. Can we hope with these imperfect means of communication, liable at any time as at present to be stopped for an indefinite period, to make any real solid progress? Can we ever hope to compete successfully with neighbouring provinces and colonies who do not labour under such grave difficulties? Or will people be

induced to enter into business with such hindrances before them ?. We think not.

Moreover, we would say to those who doubt the .policy of undertaking* this railway, there is no such thing as a colony standing' still; we must either progress or go back. These imperfect roads will continually want a heavy outlay expended upon them or they will become useless. Sooner or later we must make the railway; and the money that is expended upon the present communication is is a loss to the community. We venture to say that nineteen men out of twenty coming' to this country, able to form a judgment on the matter, would, after studying its natural conformation, decide that a railway must be made through the hill before the country can dp any good. In the meantime, whether we are to have a railway in six or in sixty years, itis quite certain that we must maintain our arterial roads in as highly effective a state as is possible under all circumstances.' We have lately endeavoured to show, that it is the duty of the Government to do this. The whole people require and,use them, and therefore the Government, holding the funds of the public, must pay for the work. It is not creditable that the Bridle path should be left 'to falMnto such a state as it is. in at the present moment. A very few pounds judiciously laid out would effect all that is needful. The same may be said of the Ferry road, and of that from Christ? church to Kaiapdi. The continuous heavy traffic on these roads, confined as it is to the centre by the peculiar form employed 'in, their construction, has worn deep ruts which have penetrated the gravel to the depth of upwards of a foot in many places, forming waterholes; while on the sloping sides adjoining may be seen the gravel as originally laid o% with the grass growing on it. A few men put on with rakes would do good, and would save their wages over and over again by preventing the total destruction of the road. The Government need not be afraid of being taunted with extravagance in authorising expenditure of this nature. It is by far the best economy to keep these expensive works in a proper state of repair.