EXTENSION OF THE AWAMOKO RAILWAY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 79, 22 July 1876, Page 2

EXTENSION OF THE AWAMOKO RAILWAY.

We ("Guardian ") understand that it j. in contemplation to further extend the Awamoko branch of the Oamaru and Waitaki Railway, and for that purpose a survey of an additional ten or twelve miles is about to be made. The line will follow the course of the Waitaki River, terminating at or near Otekaike, the station of Mr. Campbell. This proposed addition has been warranted by a large traffic which the Awamoko- branch line has developed. With all that has been said about the coatli! ness and the blunders in connection with its construction, the Awamoko line has already proved an important boon to the fanners of the table-lands overlooking th 6 Waitaki, and promises to hold a good posi. tion among the best paying lines of tie Province. The crops of wheat on the tables have this season averaged from thirty-five bushels per acre on the old cultivated lands to fifty bushels peracie on new soil; and many thousands of bushels have been despatched by means of < the iron horse to the contiguous seaport of Oamaru. It is expected that the ten additional miles to be constructed will involve but a small outlay. The track proposed is along the gorge through which the Wai. taki flows, and with the exception of the Maerewhenua River and some smaller tributaries that must be crossed, the en-' gineering difficulties will be but few. There is plenty of ballast in the locality everywhere, and except the timber for sleepers, the contractor will have an abun. dance of material for forming a good pen. manent way close at hand. Large areas of virgin soil in this neighbourhood have this year been broken up by the.plough, and with the extension of this line the value of property and progress of settlement along the boundary lands between Otago and Canterbury cannot fail to be largely increased.