The Aelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1566.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 179, 1 October 1866, Page 2

The Aelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1566.

We learn from the Canterbury papers that the railway movement is not allowed to stop in that province. Thc Times says the first instalment of the Great Southern Railway will be opened on the 15th October. A hope is entertiuned that Sh* George Grey will honor the people with his presence on the occasion, a hope not unmixed with fear, however, when it is remembered how often he has disappointed the expectations of her Majesty's loyal subjects on similar occasions. Perhaps the temptation to see twenty miles of railway at work in New Zealand may induce tlie Governor to make an effort to conquer the reluctance he has so frequently manifested to make himself a raree show for the people. The railway works are said to be executed in capital style, aud the public, both gentle and simple, are in the highest : spirits at the thought of seeing thc iron-horse dashing across the far-famed Canterbury plains. The liue from Christchurch to Roliestou, is said to be 14£ miles in length, and follows the gradual ascent of the plains. Throughout the whole length it is nearly a straight run, one slight curve only occurring. The abundance of gravel in close proximity to the line affords the best kind of ballast. The sleepers are mostly he.. rt of black pine, and appear unusually substantial. Altogether tho line seems to an unprofessional eye quite perfect, aud a person can travel at j speed from end to end without feeling the I slightest sense of inequality. The work on the tuunei is steadily progressing. There I remain uow something under 300 yards only to be bored through before the drills of the I miners will meet. No wonder thc people of Canterbury are highly pleased aud wish that the Governor should share their pleasure. Not only are the Canterbury people fully alive lo the importance of railways, but the same authority tells us that tramways are being projected in all parts of the province. We have mentioned pu former occasions that a company has been formed for making a tramway from Greymouth southward to Saltwater Creek, aud so to the Teremakau. This will probably be met by a line from Hokitika northwards to the Teremakau, which would complete the communication between the two towns. It is supposed this line will lead to the formation of a tramway along the western seaboard, and render the community independent of the precarious services of the small coasting s Learners, securing at the same time regularity of intercourse and rapidity of transit. Ifc is urged that the construction of ' a good tramway on this part of the West Coast, will confer vast benefits on a community who have now to complain of the absence of harbors, boisterous weather, impassable bars, and the loss of property by frequent accidents to shipping. It is argued that it would be well to empower the DisI trict Road Boards to construct tramroads, in order to open up the agricultural and pastoral districts, and place them in easy commuuition with the gold-fields. If the inhabitants of the gold-fields on the coast show so much spirit aud determination in their attempts to . establish cheap and rapid communication, it will uot do for the people of the interior to allow themselves to be outstripped in the race to promote so valuable an object. The Government will be expected to aid the undertakings by grants of land, by giving the companies the aid of the engineer's department, and even by guaranteeing a moderate rate of interest upon the capital invested in the undertakings. It is needless to remark that in a province where so unanimous a feeling is expressed in

favor of establishing the means of opening up the country, great results may be, expected to be achieved in reference to railwayenterprise. The Canterbury Government were much censured and ridiculed at the time for the expense they were at in constructing the road from Christchurch to Hokitika, but it. was a step in the right direction notwithstanding the great expense of the road. j Cobb now runs from. Dunedin to Hokitika, and thero is no part of tbe colony where the enterprising firm will not push their coaches if they see the slightest chance of the enterprise being remunerative. Whilst railway enterprise is active in most parts of the Middle Island, it will be passing strange if it be allowed to slumber here. Southland, with all its embarrassments, has resolved, bv hook or by crook, to open up the countiy. Otago sees that railway communication is needed to enable it to make the most of thei advantages of that wealthy province. Canterbury is taking the lead iu railway matters, and the miners on the West Coast are setting a good example to their fellow colonists in all that relates to the improvement of the present imperfect means of communication with the other parts of the colony. We are ignorant of tne precise position of the Nelson Railway Bill which is now .passing through the House, but hope the time is not distant when Nelson province will take its proper position in a matter so essential to the prosperity of itself aud the colony generally. We hope soon to be able to announce that,. so far as the legislature is concerned, all obstacles have been removed that stood in the way of a consummation so devoutly to bo wished.