THE NORTHERN RAILWAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2934, 4 June 1870, Page 3

THE NORTHERN RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LYTTELTON TIMES. Sir, The project of beginning the Northern Railway at Eaiapoi and proceeding northwards, which was advocated by a few of the members of the Provincial Council, and generally approved of by the residents in the north, is now, I believe, admitted to have been the most rational and just of the plans proposed, not only by residents in the north, but by all disinterested persons in the province. In the belief that nothing in the matter has yet been irrevocably settled, 1 wish, with your permission, to rouse public attention once more to the subject. lam not aware that the reasons which determined the Government upon the present plan have ever been fully given to the public, but the one reason which has been advanced in public, viz., the cost of transferring plant, &c., to Eaiapoi, appears to persons having no special knowledge of such subjects, weak and even frivolous. To take an illustration—what would be thought Oi a farmer who, having wheat dead ripe, at one end of bis farm, should begin to cut his green wheat at the other because his reaping machine lay there? It is perhaps doubtful whether, in proportion to magnitude of the work to be done, the cost of transferring railway plant from Christchurch to Eaiapoi would be of more importance to the province than the time occupied in moving the machine across the farm would be to the farmer. If it be urged that the railway could be more economically carried out by commencing at Christchurch, I answer that a true economy would attend first to those requirements which ate most urgent, and afterwards to those less urgent. For any substantial benefit which settlers north of Eaiapoi would derive from that portion of the line between Christchurch and Eaiapoi; it might almost as well he constructed in the neighbourhood of Birmingham, which would probably he most economical of all. It appears from an official statement that the funds in hand at present are not qnite sufficient to carry the line to Eaiapoi; but supposing it to he completed so far, what would be the result ? The Northern settlers: then, as now, would deliver their produce at Eaiapoi, the apparent difference being that they would then have the option of sending it on to Lyttelton by amore expensive route than at present. ; This would at any-rate be the case till the complex tion of a deep water jetty in Lyttelton obviated the necessity of lightering. I believe we may say roughly that the capital required to construct the proposed railway from Christchurch to Rangiora would, if the railway were begun at Eaiapoi, be sufficient to carry a line to the Eowai and the greater part of the way to Oxford, there being but one bridge of considerable size required, and the land being either reserved or obtainable at a very low rate. If such is the case, who can hesitate between a line of railways which would meet the wants and develop the resources of so large an area, and one which would be comparatively useless ? Of course, lam aware that this view of the question does not suit the business men of Christchurch and owners of town property, but we have yielded too long to influences which should not properly be brought to bear on this matter; and I blame our Northern representatives that they have not bad the courage to appeal to justice and reason, hut fearing delay and lest the money might be diverted to another purpose, have consented to a plan which their better judgment must condemn. I have said so much, Mr Editor, in the hope of provoking discussion on this important subject, and eliciting, if possible, some other and better reasons for the course adopted than have yet been made public, and I have the less scruple in troubling you in the matter, as I have perceived that for a long period you have persistently advocated lines of communication which are adapted to meet our wants rather than minister to our luxuries, and to promote the settlement of the outlying parts of the province rather than increase the wealth of a central district. Your obedient servant, NORTHERN SETTLER.