TOPHOUSE V. RAI VALLEY RAILWAY.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1935, 17 August 1886, Page 3

TOPHOUSE V. RAI VALLEY RAILWAY.

TO TIIE EDlTOtt. .Slit.—The merits of these rival schemes *ro slowly, but surely, becoming better understood by the general public, anil aid convincing testimony to the most sceptiealin favor of a railway to Nelson via Vai Valley, in preference to the Topli use route. We have had special views from my friend 11 Blenheiiuite,”then “Marlboroughile” and, if we can only get n few more such letters from a “ Hittite,” “ Jebusile,’ “ Clideonite,” or, even, a final “Topouseite,” with about the same dearth of argument, and facts, I need only remark in the oracular language of Te Whiti, " The potato is coolud.” My friend “ Mnrlboroughite ” has b'eu merciful to me, therefor. I will not waste paper replying to his possibilities, but f»r his special information would refer him to Mr Biaii’s report and maps, which completely cripple the assertions re the close proximity of the West Coast; cheap coal; and cost of construction. Mr Blair, io his report, says—“ The coalfio’d in the Upper Buffer is a comparatively recent discovery, at any rate as far regards its extent and further on this passage ocours —“ The extent of the ooalbeds in the Upper Buller field has not, of course, been ascertained ’’—most suggestive paragraphs—still I hope these vast deposits will ultimately be found to exist as undeveloped national wealth,-but,- but, we have a coal mine nearer home, and it is cruel of “ Marlboroughito ” 10 run the West Coast against the coal treasures of l’icton—especially in its infancy. lam sorry “ Marlboroughite” cannot see the advantages of the East Coa3t line, but probably his vision could be improved by a trip over the route, and one tiling be would see—that according to Mr Blair’s report it is actually 10 miles less distance between Christchurch and Picton than going round by Tophouse.—This alone should prove what we call an “ eyeopener,” but should it not hive the desired effect “Marlboroughite” can reckon on me for a bottle of Haveho’t eye-water gratis. Then, if Blenheim would be a roadside station in thecne case for filling the boiler I quite fail to understand the difference it would make coming from Tophouse, except the boiler would not require filling, const quently the train could leave a little sooner for the Port. However, Picton is destined to be the grand Norther Terminus for the trunk line in spite of every obstacle, but both Blenheim and Picton would derive greater benefits from the ring"fence railway allude 1 to, as it would induce an immense passenger traffic also from Otago and Canterbury,

fn Eng'and and America they spend millions of money to annihilate distance by rai wavs, therefore, as a trunk line, the Fast Const connection betw en Dunedin and Picton lias no reasonable competitor, C. H. Mills.