CORRESPONDENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LX, Issue 2337, 6 March 1897, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

. ■» . ■ THE APPROACHES TO TIMARU.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMARtT HERALD, Sir,— The providing of suitable and necessary work for the unemployed durthe approaching winter will be a question for settlement before long by the various 1 bodies concerned^ Such as the Charitable Aid Board. At present I can foresee work for two winters if the various bodies concerned would move m theidirebtion indicated, and it involves the whole of South Canterbury so far as expenditure and income are concerned; What has struck me for the last two or three years as being remarkable for their nofchaying received attention previously, are the bad approaches to Timaru town. It is looked upon as being the best seaport m Canterbury, having at the same time such a fine back country ; and I don't think it possible anywhere to find a town of similar importance possessing such bad approaches by road ; and yet these could be so easily rectified. Tak*. ing the North Road, we have four bad hills to climb, upon which no attempt has ever been made to change the line for the better. The presence of such hills simply means that Timaru becomes a difficult place to visit with wheel traffic. Farmers and stationholders alike have to contend with this difficulty, much to their loss m horse flesh and small loads. What I would propose is that a survey be made for a road alongside the railway between Timaru and Waahdyke. There are only properly Bpeaking three hills to cut through, and simple cuttings they would.be, . I would suggest the change at Timaru begin opposite the ' Moody wharf,, the roadway passing . round the end of Mr Mee's building. This just requites the narrow strip of earth between the railway line and the beach cut down, and a little reclamation to be done with the^stuff removed, after which the railway line could be shifted but to the edge of the harbour, and the present site for the line could then be used for the, roadway. This would give an easier . grade to the railway line as well, winch' could ; rejoin at the viaduct., The next cutting of any importance wduld be at Dashing Rocks, uhere the first railway crossing would take place, the ' roadway here taking • the seaside of the railway, and continuing till the last cutting at the Freezing Works is paesed, when ,another railway crossing takes place at the bridge where the road now almost joins the railway. One advantage of the deviation is the shortening of the road,', which "means a gceat saving m. metal, besides giving a .level road and Baying much time now .'lost m the extra distance and hill-climb-ing. If thought proper, theoldroaa m 'Some places could be sold or exchanged for the new roadway, thus causing no loss to landholders or the ratepayers. The expense of constructing the new roadway would be borne by all the public bodies m town and country, as all would be equal partakers of the benefits coming from the same. The same course could, .be pursued, with regard to the South Road, which is the worst of the two; owing to the greater distance and more hills as, well as heavier grades. And it .would be well to deal with the proposed deviation at once, seeing itjiat on the North Road preparations are being made for re-metalling and on the South Road a new bridge is about to be put across the Pareora, all of which would be .unnecessary at present, if at all, as I think the South Road could pass on the railway line as is done crossing the Waitaß and Rakaia rivers. Anyhow the construction of the south bridge would not be on the old site. I trust that some little attention will be given to the matter at once, as it means much gain to th§ whole of South Canterbury asabusi;n£Bß centre and shipping port, apart from furnishing work for two years to the Mourin^class. I am, etc., A Temporary Resident;