THE PROPOSED NEW RAILWAY STATION AT TIMARU.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 1342, 8 January 1879, Page 3

THE PROPOSED NEW RAILWAY STATION AT TIMARU.

Through the courtesy of Mr Fulbert Archer, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, we have been allowfd to inspeot the pluns of the proposed alterations and extension of the railway station at Timaru, which wero received by him yesterday from the Government ; and we will do our beet to describe them for the benefit and information of the public. To make room for the improvements, a considerable portion of the hill behind the present station is to be cut away. The line of excavation will start from a point on Cain's Terrace, about 30 feet to the north of Mr Henry Green's store ; will sweep round close behind that building, and be .continued along towards the National Mortgage and Agency Company's store. The Custom House, Sea View Cottage, and P. Cunningham and Co* office and store, will have to come away, the future line of cliff being about 40 feet behind the presenc railway station. - A road is marked close under the face of the cliff from the foot of Strathallan-atreet to George-street. Largo reclamation works are also proposed, and to carry out these, a sea wall is to be built from the point m front of the lifeboat shed right along below low-water mark, and outside the Timaru and Georgestreet Services, to the stone wall m front of the railway station. The wall will be continued from the north side of theapproxch to the breakwater to the Government Landing Service ; all the space inside being filled up and used by the Railway. It will thus be seen that it is intended to completely shut up the George-street and Timaru Landing Services, and leave the port only the Government oue to work with. And now as regards the new station arrangements. The passenger building and platform — about 300 feet long — will' be immediately at the foot of, and at right angles to Georgeetreet, where the Landing Services now stand, and will face the sea, as at present, with entrances from the street. At the southern end of the passenger station will be a horse and carriagn platform, eitu&ted nearly m front of the N.Z.L. and M.A. Company's store, and with a road leading round to it ftom Georgestreet. The north end of the new passenger platform will be just m front of the centre of the present one. What is now the goods shed, is to be turn°d into an engine shed, and a new goods shed some 200 ft long built further back and partly on excavated land, the new street passing close to it, and between it and the cliff. A massive turn-table for the convenience of the large American and other engines, is to be placed where Allan aud Stumble's blacksmith shop now stands, and the whole of the reclaimed land between the breakwater and the Government Landing Service will be laid with lines of rails for shunting purposes. The main line, as well a3 four others, will run between the engine and goods sheds, curving round to the east of the passenger Btation. Judging by the number of suunting lines of rai's marked on the plan, there will be any amount of room to work about m. We may mention that the line furthest out will run on the reclaimed land some distance further out than where the George-street Service now stundi. No provision seemingly ia intended for counesting the breakwater with the railway. The present passenger station is to come away altogether, and the vacant space wiil contribute towards giving inoressed yard accommodation.

From thiß description it wdl be eeen that it is intended to take a very great portion of fie foreshore ; to shut up two of the Landir.g Services altog-ther; and t> occupy all the l<ind which the Harbor Bo^rd have been taking such trouble and pains to protect by costly concrete blocks between the breakwater and the Government Landing Service. We are not going to make any remark? upon the plans here, but will do so m an early issue. In the mean' ime we will leave thi- public to Btudy the matter tbeni=eives, and draw their own deductions.