RAILWAY TO THE WEST COAST.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 17, 21 January 1867, Page 2

RAILWAY TO THE WEST COAST.

To the Editor of the Evening Mail. Sir — More than a twelvemonth agdj I sent the following letter to one of your contemporaries, andi am anxious to reproduce it, before the meeting of the Provincial Council, to-morrow. la this letter I stated : — Railroads, from their reproductive character, and as a means of economising time and money to all classes, ought especially to commend themselves to the population of Nelson. It is evident that without the introduction of foreign capital and labor, and a direct and cheap communication with the gold-fields, this place must continue to retain its present uninfluential position for a long time to come. It is laid down as an established fact, that railroads after having been only a short time constructed, have greatly enriched the country through which they have passed. They are also the great lever from which numerous other minor works proceed, the whole of which act and react on each other so as to conduce to the public good. The construction of a railroad from Nelson to the Grey, would embrace in a direct line for about sixty miles, a large portion of the agricultural laud of the province, having a great quantity of country rich in minerals on each side of it. The cost of construction would probably be. about £1,600,000, which at 6 per cent, would be £96.000 per annum, the working expenses being about £38,000 per annum. From carefully compiled statistics of the quantity of goods consumed at the Grey and Hokitika, it would be easy to show that at least 600 tons per month would pass through Nelson, which at £4 per ton, would give £28,800 per annum. The passenger traffic may be estimated at about -£50,000 per annum. There are no statistics at hand to enable one to form an , opinion of the amount of agricultural aud dairy produce, though, they would increase a thousand fold, from the means offered in the improved transit to the various markets. The Buller and the surrounding 'district are not included in the present calculation. For the carrying out of this work, and a further extension as may be deemed expedient at some future time, I would suggest that three millions of acres of land be made over to the province. It might be surveyed in blocks, and let on easy terms to agriculturists on a lease of 21 years, with a purchase clause, in such blocks as would act as an inducement to form companies. A rent quite equal to the interest of the money borrowed, might be easily raised from the lands. There would be no difficulty in inducing several firms in London to undertake the construction of such a line as has been indicated, if the principal and interest of the money advanced, were secured to them on the lands of the province. It is the duty of those who preside over public affairs in Nelson, to avail themselves of the tide of prosperity which is setting in towards its shores. Heaven helps them who help themselves. Firmness and determination may accomplish great results ; whilst irresolution aud infirmity of purpose on the part of our public councillors, by allowing the tide to pass, may cause Nelson to retire to its former obscurity. So far my previous '.letter. Now that there is a population and towns as large as Nelson on the sea coast, besides several inland towns, paying to the Provincial Revenue some £50,000 per annum, the executive must pay attention to the voice of the people, and make either a railroad or a horse-tramway into the interior. It is one of the first duties of government to open communication with the interior, without which no place can be prosperourg Whilst. believing that a railway is practicable, I doubt if the money can be raised in the way the Government have placed it before the public. The openiug of a tramway alone from the head of the Buller, at a cost of 1,000 per mile, would give an immense impetus to trade. The proposed plan will do very little good unless the population be first fixed upon the land. It is not tracks that will meet the requirements of the Buller district, j such as are now beiDg made up the banks

'^MMJitf___M__l__-W_-_MK_W_BWMMM»WMn^WB>BaMMW'^^ of that river. The land will be no inducement to capitalists unless a population be settled upon it. This alone makes traffic pay. As to minerals you cannot compete with South America or South Australia. I think any amount of money could be got in London, for the construction of a railway, on the terms proposed in my letter above referred to. I am, sir, yours, J. C. Nelson, January 21, 1867. A melancholy instance of the effects of excessive drinking, says the West Coast Times, took place at lloss a few days ago. A miner, named Henry Thomas, had, during the Christmas holidays, been indulging so freely iu tbe debauchery that is so common at such a time on a gold-field, that his mind became affected. On Monday, the 7th instant, his mate left him alone in their tent, and was gone but a few minutes, when Thomas's dog followed, and commenced a series of such strange demonstrations that induced him to return to the tent, when to his horror he found his friend coolly sawing away at his throat with a common blunt table knife. Before the poor fellow's suicidal course could be arrested he had inflicted such severe injuries that iuflamation of the lungs ensued hy reason of extravasation of blood, and he died the following Friday evening. We take the following from the Hokitika Evening Star of the 14th instant: — A report reached town today thrt traces of the mineral lead, or plumbago, had been discovered in the ranges at the back of the Waimea. This substance is known to exist in various parts of the colony, although the mineral is not found in so pure a state as that obtained from the Cumberland mines in England. The G. R. Argus of the 17th is glad to be able to state that his Excellency the Governor will include Greymouth in his visit to Westlaud. A telegram was sent to Mr. Whall, M.P.C., on Tuesday, and a reply was received to the effect that Sir George. Grey was to reach Hokitika on Tuesday and would afterwards come to Greymouth. His Excellency may therefoie be expected here on Thursday, but before that clay the precise day of his arrival will be ascertained. The Bank of New South Wales have established an agency at the Buller, under the charge of Mr. Yates, Gold-fields Inspector. In his charge to the Grand Jury at the opeuiug of the Supreme Court session at Hokitika, his Honor Mr. Justice Gresson stated that it had been arranged for three sessions of the Court to be held annually on the West Coast. Mr. Tonks, the contractor for the reclaimed land on Lambton Quay, Wellington, is determined to push his work in earnest. We ,Indep'endent, are informed that he is now workiug double gangs, from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., and calculates on removing from 1,000 to 1,200 tons of stuff daily. At this rate of work, he expects to have ample time for the completion of his contract, which will expire in June next. The Oddfellows of Akaroa have celebrated their seventh anniversary by a social reunion. On New Year's Day the Exchange Hotel at Kaiapoi was destroyed by fire. It is not known how the fire originated. The Resident Magistrate's Court at Christchurch has been enlarged for the purpose of affording better accommodation to the public. A somewhat acrimonious correspondence has appeared in the Lyttelton Times on the subject of Ritualism. The Lyttelton Times says : — The generosity traditionally due at the festive season of Christmas, was not unfelt this year. The orphaus in the Asylum had a harvest of lamb, fruits, and cake from this source. The Lunatic Asylum was flooded with ten gallons of ale, and the gaol received the same number of gallons, with a case of the bottled article in addition, the extra quantity having been sent perhaps on the presumption that prisoners have stronger heads than lunatics. The L. Times, says no successor to Mr Fitz Gerald in the representation of Christchurch, in the general assembly, is yet publicly announced, though several gentlemen have been named as suitable candidates. It is probable that the electors will again offer the seat to Mr Weld, whose health is understood to have very much improved since his seclusion from public affairs.

The Southland News says: — We have suffered during two or three days past from a persistent east wind — almost as harsh and piercing as the one so disliked in Europe. Should it continue much longer, the effect on vegetation will be very unfavorable. As might be expected, colds are very prevalent. We (Lyttelton Times) regret to say that Mr A. J. Perrin, a member of No. I Battery of Artillery, met with a serious accident at the Drill Shed, on Saturday afternoon, by fracturing his leg near the anclejoint. The accident appears to have happened during gun-drill. His foot got jammed near the trail eye of the gun-car-riage, and he fell down. He was at once removed to his residence, and Drs. Donald, Rouse, aud Mottley, were in immediate attendance, and rendered every assistance. The Auckland papers state that the Hon. the Defence Minister has beeu engaged visiting Ohiwa, Whakatane, Opotiki, and Tauranga. Mr. J.A. Wilson, the ageut appointed to negotiate respecting the Whakatane lauds, has obtained a considerable amount, by cession from the natives, and a settlement is about to be made at that 'place. A sale of some very fine long-woolled sheep is announced by Mr. Sturt to take place at Meanee on Saturday next. The sheep are bred by the Messrs. Howard, of Auckland, who, at the show of the New Zealand Agricultural Society, early in November, took the prize for Leicester rams, and second and third for Lincoln ewe hoggets, besides being commended for other exhibits. Their breed of sheep is very highly spoken of throughout the colony. — Hawke's Bay Herald, December 25th. A sum of £24 has been presented to the Rev. R. Taylor, missionary, of Putiki, by the maoris composing his congregation, previous to his leaving for England. On Dec. 27 a Masonic ball was held in the Town Hall, Christchurch, which was attended by members of the craft and their friends. The Taranaki Herald of the 19th states: The party of Waikatos under Hirini and More, who passed the White Cliffs on their way Southward sometime since, have arrived at Waikoukou, and have sent a notice requiring the friendly natives to give in their allegiance to the king, threatening them with punishment (whiu) if they refuse. Their threats, however, appear to have more bounce than sincerity in them, and the promised punishment does not seem to disturb the equanimity of our allies living at Warea, the nearest post to Waikoukou. The correspondent of the Wanganui Times, writing from Waihi, under date 7th instant, says : — " We are nearly blinded with the dust. * The reports about the Waikatos are so conflicting that we begin to fear that they will not put in an appearance. The men of the Wanganui Yeomanry Cavalry are to be tried this week by a District Court Martial. I will let you know the result. Captain Bear, who was the cause of their trouble, has, I am told, resigned the service. The Colonial force up here drew for their land a few days ago, but as matters now stand, there will not be many of them to occupy it ; they are all nearly disbanded." The Wanganui Times has the following : — Some of the purchasers of the Waitotara block have now taken possession, and the time has arrived when the township should be laid out and thrown open for the settlement. Some assert that the best site for a township is set apart as a native reserve. As the subject of settlement is one of paramount importance we trust that the best site will be made available. With all due respect to native rights, lauds reserved for their special use and benefit should not be selected upon a spot that would retard settlement, or when so selected previous to a knowledge of the fact they should be exchanged for land of an equal value in a different locality. Many intending settlers are now waiting for allotments in the Waitotara township : the sale of those allotments would benefit, the Government, and seeing that the time for such sale aud settlement has arrived, we hope e're long, to be able to report progress. The anniversary of the colony of Auckland is to be celebrated on the 29th instant.