Untitled

Marlborough Express, Volume XIII, Issue 1081, 23 November 1878, Page 5

A press Agency telegram, published m our last issue, says it is understood that many of the merchants at Timaru, disgusted by the inconvenience and delay they were put to last year m forwarding wool and grain by railway, are making arrangements to use water carriage during the coming season. If we remember rightly the merchants of Timaru used to be most indefatigable m urging on the Government the desirability of having railway communication there and m pointing out what a great source of revenue would be derived from the wool and grain traffic. It would appear, however, that no sooner is the line open than the Timaru merchants complain that it- does not meet their requirements, and seek other means for the transmission of their produce. The question whether water carriage can successfully compete with the railway will, therefore, if the arrangements now being made are carried out, soon be practically tested. There can be no doubt that m this district, were the Picton line extended into the Town of Blenheim as it ought to have been long ago. instead of stopping short at Opawa, a large portion of wool and other produce now sent from here by water would be forwarded to Picton for shipment at that port. This extension of the railway into town from the present terminus, a distance of less than two miles, would undoubtedly add considerably to the traffic.returns. The work has been repeatedly promised to be undertaken and will, it is to be hoped, .soon be commenced. Contracts for a composite bridge across the Opawa river to serve for passengers and goods traffic by road and rail were expected to have been called for some time ago, and as our readers are aware the Government have promised that the matter should meet with immediate attention. The people here kave been very patient and long suffering as regards this question, and think it is high time the promise made should be carried out. L 20,000 appears on the printed estimates of this year for carrying out the work, and it is to be hoped that this amount will be expended for the the purpose for which it was voted, without further delay. The sum appears ample for the completion of tbe line into the hearb of the town, a distance of not more than a mile on nearly a dead level, the only heavy work being the bridge across the Opawa river. • [Since the above was m type we have received additional and most encouraging information on this subject, as will be seen on perusing the article which precedes this one].