OAMARU NASEBY RAILWAY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1122, 22 November 1879, Page 2

OAMARU NASEBY RAILWAY.

T?he 'following: copy of a letter addressed to the Bon. the Minister for Public Works-has been kindly handed to us for.-gublication : -V Oamaru, November, 1870. Sir, — On behalf of the Oamaru-Naseby Railway Committee and, in accordance with a resolution of the Committee in that behalf, we have the honor to represent for your consideration tho desirability of steps being taken with the view of ascertaining the feasibility' of' aft"°&xteusion of the Windsor-Livingstone . (or Oamaru-Livingstone) branch railway from its present projected terminus near the township of Livingstone, Maerewhenua goldfield, to a point of junction with the main interior (Strath-Taieri) lino at or about the Kyeburn Flat. t It is, of course, known to you that now some eighteen months ago a flying" survey of the intervening country was made on behalf -of the Committee by Messrs. Thornton and Bull, and later by Mr. Usshor under the instructions . ,of tho Public Works of the; lino now under contract; bit so far nothing like a complete and accurate: topographical and engineering survey has been made over the country between Livingstone and Kyeburn. ; • - Information gathered by the Committee leads to the belief that such a survey would show beyond question that a line at fairgrades and at a reasonably moderate cost, could be constructed between the •■.t\vo> points, tho difficulties in an engineering point of view being far less than has Ibeeia frequently supposed, and as, for' the reasons hereafter stated, it cannot but be that at no distant date this link in' the interior railway system must be supplied, the Committee think they have good grounds for urging upon the Government that the survey asked for should be undertaken. Among those reasons are—

1. The fact that the distance in a direot line between Livingstone and the Kyeburn Flat is barely 1G miles, andi allowing for necessary deviations, it ia believed that from 20 to 22 miles of line would complete the connection between the main trunk line (Amberley-Inver-cargill) at Oamaru and the main interior (of Otago) line at Kyeburn. 2. Wore this gap supplied, passeiigers for the goldfields townships and the Lakes, proceeding from any station north of Oamaru, could reach their destination via Oamaru, Livingstone, the Pass, and Kyeburn in a day less time than by travelling down through Dunedin to Outram,.and thence by the Strath-Taieri line "to Kyeburn, the common point of the two lines, 3. Of course the same applies to travellers wishing to proceed from the Lakes or Cromwell, Clyde, &c., to Christchurch, Wellington, or Auckland, or indeed any part of New Zealand north of Oamaru.

4. In sending produce from the interior to the sea, on arriving at Kyeburn 50 miles of rail carriage would take it to the Port of Oama.ru, as against 100 miles to '

that of Port Chalmers, a difference which is sufficient in itself to represent a fair profit to the grower, while also in the evsnt of tho completion of the harbor works Jit Oamaru enabling direct importation from Home to that port, the difference of mileage of rail carriage would have the effect of a considerable saving to the interior (numbering some 10,000) on many important articles of consumption. a. The branch line Oamaru to Ngap&ra, of which the Windsor-Livingstone is an extension from tho most practicable point, is one of the boat paying lines in New Zealand, earning, it is understood, about 7 per cent, over working expenses, and it is believed that the extension to Livingstone will also pay well. G. If as against the cost of connecting this line with the Strath-Taieri is credited, tho entire amount of extra traffic in passengers and freight (which tho Committee represent would be but fair), the Committee are satisfied that the returns would show a large annual profit over and above working expenses ; indeed, for the reasons before stated, they believe that the additional 20 or 22 miles would payas well, if not better, than any similar uiUqage in New Zealand. The Committee are, of pourse, aware that the number of Unas ttlyeady sane-, tioncd by Parliament, and the engage* ments entered into by the Government preclude the probability of the immediate undertaking of the construction of the extension to which this communication refers, but in view csf the great advantages which must acorue from its construction so soon as that can be accomplished, tlioy respectfully submit for the consideration of the Government tho desirability of providing for the neoessary preliminary of a complete and exhaustive survey and report. "This, the Committee are advised, would not involve an expenditure of mora than L2OOO, and they venture to hope that the Government will see its way to make the necessary provision this session, so that such survey may be at once under-, taken.

Hoping to receive a reply, \y<3 are, 6so. Samuel Gibes, William J. Steward, Pro Oamaru-Naseby Railway Committee. The Hon. Minister for Public Works.