THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVIII, Issue 11462, 28 December 1897, Page 3

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOB.

Sib, —I read in your paper this morning that a number of Canterbury members had an interview yesterday with the Premier, asking him to have some more work done this season on the Springfield end of the line. Mr Seddon is reported to have made a statement which ought to give the greatest pleasure to anyone interested in the completion of this important railway, and who is there among us who would not heartily wish to see it finished? 1 have lived for some time at Kowai Bush, and am pretty well acquainted with tho country, having made long excursions in the neighbourhood, and I have long been of opinion from what competent people have told me that a great mistake was made in taking the railway line through the defiles of Patterson’s creek when, instead of that, it ought to have followed tho present coach route in the direction of Porter’s Pass, and then passing up the valley at the foot of the pass have turned to the left and pierced through the hills by a short tunnel, which would at once introduce the line to the comparatively level district in which Castle Hill is situated, and which, moreover, is a much more direct route to the coast. Now, then, is the time for people in Christchurch to meet at once and consider how they can assist tho Government with this new survey.—l am, &c„ *D. BROWNE.