THE WELLINGTON-MANA. WATU RAILWAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7845, 28 April 1886, Page 5

THE WELLINGTON-MANA. WATU RAILWAY.

Our Wellington correspondent lately furnished us with, some account of the distances likely soon to be opened on the Wellington - Manawatu line of railway. The special trip to Palmer3ton overland by rail and road along the route which will be'taken by the line, and back again via Eoxton by sea to Wellington, left the two reporters of the local paper in ecstasies with what they had seen. Anyone who has travelled up the West Coast of the Wellington Provincial District will at once acknowledge that the following description of that picturesque journey by the representative of the New Zealand Times is no whit exaggerated : The scenery between Pukeruaand Paikakariki is of a charming character. The hills are still clothed with bush, and the gullies have a rich profusion of ferns. Below there is the broad expanse of sea, with the outlines of the Middle Island in the distance, and Mana Island in full view. On clear days Euapehu and Egmont can be caught sight of, but it was a little hazy on Thursday morning, and we were not so fortunate as others. Later on, however, we had a very fine view of both mountains from the coach. Plimmerton is at present ene of the most favoured spots for excursionists, but when the railway is open to Paikakariki a large number of people will not be content tq remain at Plimmerton. Mr Fronde says that New Zealand should be a country for poets and artists. Even the most commonplace and matter-of-fact individuals are touched by such scenes as that between Pukerua and Paikakariki. A short stay for refreshments, one or two of the party not having breakfasted, and we got on board one of Messrs Hall and Co.'s coaches, and moved along the beach at the rate of about eight miles per hour. A pleasant time it was, for the sun shone out brightly, the island of Kapiti affording a continual relief to the eye, while the glimpses of Egmont and Euapehu, snow-capped and distant, were very beautiful. As we were wheeled along, a Maori canoe was in sight, and on enquiry I learnt that Wi Parata's wife, who was ill, was being taken from Kapiti Island to Waikanae for change of air. And not at all a bad mode of conveyance for an invalid, especially on a calm day. Otaki was reached at 2 o'clock, and, after lunch, a buggy drive of- seven or eight miles brought the travellers to Manukau, at which point the 32 miles of the Company's line begun from the Palmerston end was tapped. Longburn, at the other end of the 32 miles, is the spot at which the present Government line from Foxton to Palmerston and the Wellington-Manawatu Company's lines meet. The 32 miles were covered in les3 than an hour and 40 minutes, 15 of which were expended in " doing" Shannon, the place where all the plant and "material from the line from Longburn to Waikanae was landed—something like 4600 tons altogether. SHANNON-TOWN. The wharf near Shannon-town is 19 or 20 miles from the mouth of the Manawatu river, and as there is 9ft or 10ft of water there, the river being easily navigable all the way up, many persons are of opinion that Shannon will be a formidable rival to Foxton in a few years to come. But whether either port will be able to compete with the railway remains to be seen. The Foxton-Wanganui trains are not noted for punctuality, and the party had to wait half-an-hour before we could get into Palmerston from Longburn, a distance of about four miles, that being the point of junction of the two lines. HOME AGAIN. After a stay of two hours and a half, the

train from Wanganui! being also halff-an-hour behind time, the start back was made. Foxton was reached at 10.15 o'clock, and as the Tui was advertised to leave, the Press reporters got on board, and arrived at the Queen's Wharf exactly at 10 minutes past 8 o'clock the following morning, or in 23 hours after a start was made from the reclaimed land. In all probability the round journey has never been made in such quick time before. The distances travelled are approximately as follows: "Wellington to Pukerua (rail) 24 miles Pukerua to Paikakariki „ 3J „ Paikakariki to Otaki (coach) 20 „ Otaki to Hanukau (buggy) 7 „ Manukau to Longburn (rail) 32 „ Xongburn to Palmerston „ 4 ~ Palmerston to Poxton „ 20 „ Foxton to Wellington (stmr) 80 „ Total 190* miles After allowing for stoppages the actual time taken in travelling was about 18 hours, or an average of over 12 miles an hour. country thbotjgh which the like pauses. Pew people have anything more than a hazy notion as to what is the character of the country beyond Paikakariki. The general idea, up to eight or nine years ago, was that sand dunes, with hills at the back, and a email strip of level land ill between, was all the back country that Wellington could boast of until the fertile regions of the Manawatu were reached. The evidence taken before the Select Committee obtained by Mr Travers when a member of the House elicited some valuable, information, notably that given by the Bishop of Wellington, who had a more intimate acquaintance with the country than perhaps any other person in the Colony, including the Natives. In spite of all that was done, however, many individuals shook their wise heads, said the Bishop was more of an enthusiast than a practical man of the world, and were quite positive that it was neither as i fertile nor as extensive as Bishop Haclfield stated. Times proves the truth or error of most things, and by this time the Bishops statements have been amply verified. Those who were so positive about the "narrow strip of land" will be surprised to learn that at Horowhenua the line is ten miles from the sea and six miles from the base of the hills at the back. Of course, it is not so wide all through, but still there is a large tract of level land, and the greater portion of it is of a fertile character. At all events, those who went through were convinced that the property is'weu worth purchasing, if the Natives can be induced to sell. Major Kemp, the principal trustee of the block, is a friend of the Native Minister, and it is not unlikely that a sale may be effected before very long. Major Kemp ha 3 behaved very liberally to the Company, having given them the land required for the line —a distance of about eight miles, or 160 acres of land—free of charge. Wi Parata and the Waikanae Natives were equally liberal, their share being 130 acres. In fact, the Company seem to have got hold of a remarkably good thing. The enormous swamp of 15,000 to 20,000 acres, which they are beginning to drain energetically, has soil 6ft to Bft deep at the bottom, and is calculated to fetch £7 or .£8 per acre. THE LIKE ITSELF. As to the railway line itself, it is wonderfully level, and more like what one expects to find in a level country like Australia. In some places there is scarcely a curve for miles, and the railway is as level as a main road running through a fertile plain. Mr Higginson, the chief engineer, and his staff are to be highly complimented on the way the line has been, laid off and constructed. There was one thing in their favour; there was no political influence to drag the line a little here and a little there j no angry constituents to appease 5 no bother as to where the line was to be carried to townships. The consequence iB that the line will be, in every respect, one of the best, and one of the most inexpensive to work, in the Southern Hemisphere. WHEN WILL THE LINE BE OPENED ? The Company's officers and the contractors are all satisfied that the line will be opened by the end of the year;—perhaps in time to convey the early wool clip to Wellington. It is expected that the line from Longburn to Otaki will be open in two months, or at furthest by July 1. If the temporary beach line at Paikakariki is permitted to carry passengers—as is probable—the coaching distance will then be reduced to 20 miles, and travelling along the West Coast will be quite an easy matter. As the contractor for that portion expect to finish in July or August, the coaching distance will be lessened, whether the temporary line has official sanction or not. THE COMPANY'S PEOPEETY. As the Company had a guarantee of 30 per cent in land on the cost of construction from Government, a very valuable property has been acquired, and also by the purchase of 33,000 acres from the Natives. The land given by the Government was valued by the Surveyor-General and a gentleman appointed by the Company, the prospective value not being taken into account at the time. The Company owns about a quarter of a million acres, and has still to get land to the value of II per cent, the land allocated by Government up to the present time being only equal to 19 per cent. Roughly speaking, the Company's estate may be set down as follows : —Between Waikanae and Otaki,. 50,000 acres; between 'Otaki and Horowhenua, 50,000 acres; between Horowhenua and Fitzherbert, 70,000 acres; Fitzherbert block, 22,000 acres; between Wainuiohiata. (in proximity to City Council's property) and the Summit, 13,000 acres. COST OF CONSTRUCTION. Including all contracts, rolling-stock, plant and material, the liabilities entered into by the Company amount to About .£40,000 or .£50,000 more will be required to complete the ballasting and platelaying. Roughly speaking, the total cost will be about .£700,000. The total cost, including rolling stock, will only amount to about .£BOOO per mile; and in that amount is included the 33,000 acres of land purchased from the Natives. Against the latter, however, has to be placed as a sort of set-off the worth of formation and the ironwork for the Porirua bridge, handed over by the Government to the Company. WILL THE LINE PAY ? The best advice I can give to any person who has any doubts on the subject, says the New Zealand Times reporter, is to travel over ' the line on the first favourable opportunity that is afforded, and if he can spare the time, let him continue his journey as far as Rangitihei and Wanganui, up to Patea, and right away to the Waitara. He will then have some ideabf the valuable and immense tract of country which the line will tap. Wellington people owe a debt of gratitude to those who engaged in this plucky enterprise, and who, having once put their shoulder to the wheel, carried it on so successfully. That they will receive a large pecuniary reward I, who am acquainted with all the country have not the least possible doubt. I hope to see them, and I have no doubt they will do so, offer.as liberal and advantageous terms aa possible to people to settle on their lands, and that they will not lose sight of the valuable example set by many of the American Companies in that respect. I desire, in concluding this article, to specially thank Mr James Wallace, the Secretary of the Company, who took great pains to afford all possible information to the reporters. I desire, at the same time, to thank him for his uniform courtesy and kindness, not only on this occasion, but whenever I have had to ask him for information.