OUR RAILWAYS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4406, 12 July 1901, Page 6

OUR RAILWAYS.

OPINIONS OP A VISITING EN- ' GINEER. Mr J. Randall Mann, A.M.1.C.E., who has been on a visit to this country from Melbourne, writes to the editor of the “Times” at follows, from Christchurch: —As a casual visitor, I have felt considerable diffidence in commenting on your railway system, but the generally very favourable opinions I have formed prompt me to ask you for space to put in print what 1 have observed in a tour from Auckland to Dunedin- It may have- been done under favourable auspices, but the impressions I have since formed only tend to confirm first observations. Amongst the party who have followed. the * Royal visitors through Australia and this colony, there was a general consensus of opinion that the running here was quite as smooth as in either New South Wales, Victoria or Queensland. By reason of the narrower gauge, the carriages were not quite so commodious as in the two former colonies, but were at least equal, if not superior, to those of the latter. For myself, I can say without any reservation that, after travelling over many thousands of miles, of narrow-gauge railway in Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, I must give the palm to those of your colony. The smoothness of the running in both the North and South Islands wasi remarkable, and bears testimony to substantial construction. , When passing by express through station yards the freedom from jolting over points and crossings was very noticeable. In great measure this may be due to the rolling stock, but the construction and maintenance departments merit credit for the good order and condition of the permanent way. The new type of passenger carriage is both comfortable and convenient, and well adapted to meet the wants of travellers. Every need of the most exacting seems, to have been provided for, except one, viz., foot warmers—to my mind a necessity in this cool 'Climate. The exclusive passenger can ensconce himself" in the comer of hisi compartment, whilst the advantage of ■ being able to pass from end to end of -the train may be freely availed of by those having friends in other parts. The bird-cage effect of the corridor might be improved upon, and it is an open question whether the continuous corridor is not preferable to the crossway in the middle of the carriage. The class of workmanship in both i carriage and fittings is good, and quite equal to the very best of imported vehicles, but still I cannot keep thinking from observation that better work is turned out from your local shops. From inquiries I gather there has during recent years been a most extraordinary demand for both carriages and trucks to cope with the increase of traffic, and in due time I have no doubt all required will be locally manufactured and at as cheap a figure as to import, with the addition qf benefiting local industry. I have at times thought that the amount of seating accommodation provided for the number of passengers was too great and entailed an excessive load on the engines, to the reduction of speed. Expedition in transit is nowadays an important factor in everyday life, and the length of railway journeys might, I submit, bo lessened in this colony on manv lines. There are other points that might be touched on, but I will conclude by acknowledging the courteous treatment that everywhere seems to be accorded by the traffic officials to the travelling public. My personal experience as a stranger on your railways has been most pleasurable. *