BRANCH RAILWAYS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13812, 25 January 1909, Page 7

BRANCH RAILWAYS.

To the Editor of the "Timaru Herald. • Sir,—l noticed in a recent issue a letter from Mr Jason advocating the extension of the Fail-lie railway to lekapo, a. distance of 22 miles, or 6b miles of line from Timaru; the voter's contention being that such a lino was necessary for the successful development of a vast back country. From an intimate, knowledge of that country, we, can say at once that such a line, depending principally on wool freights and the tourist traffic could never hope to give a return of 3] per centum, the interest expected by the Govern-nwit, and wo might add, that the. solid fact that the Ota go Central runs, as Mr Jaxou says, through miles of barren country is not an argument that i* calculated to strengthen his cause, as it is not desirable to repeat such a

folly. Possibly it might interest llinl to know that 30 years ago H. petition was got up in the south to carry the Otago Central right through the Mckenzie via Ohau Lake; Braeinaf Downs and Burke's Pass to Fairlie; If Mr jaxoh bf any ofef advocate of advancing settlement by railway, telephone and postal conveniences wishes to find an opening for his best energies, let him take a run through one of the finest graitt-grbwiiig .districts itt Sbutil Canterbury, that lias been handicapped ail those tc.'ifs Jy the Want of a railway. Leaving the, main line at Saltwater Creek, south, take your branch line up the valley through the Rocky Hundreds on the right-hand side of the Otipua road to the picturesque township of BeaconsfielJ, where several roads from distant parts converge, thence-across the Pereroa to Southbnm, the centre of a fine farming district, and again westerly up to Holmwood, where a station would be of immense value, not only to tile neighbouring districts on both sides of the river, but more especially to the vast grain growing, districts in the Tipper Pareora and Gordon's Valley, and finally to the Lime. Kiln, some three miles further up the. river, where the road coming down from Cabbage Tree Point alongside the Little Pareora river intersects the main road, running through the gorges—total distance 15 miles. This terminus would serve, a huge area stretching away to the west over the limestone country and the Craigmore Downs, where thousan.-Js of acres of the best grain growing land are practically debarred from competing with the front countrv by the excessive cost of carting. The time w-ill come, hi doubt, wbpn the line will be extended up'-tbo A 7 alley to Cjtbbanc Tree Point, and tlience to Waimate southwards, and to the Cave northward. The latter line was surveyed manv years ago.—l am, etci, PROGRESS.