WIRE TRAMWAYS IN OTAGO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 550, 23 February 1870, Page 2

WIRE TRAMWAYS IN OTAGO.

(From the Daily Timet, Feb. 21.) The coast of New Zealand is singularly destitute of good harbours, and especially so in those districts most suitable for the growth of grain, in large quantities. In our own province, the fertile stretch of land between Otepopo and the Waitaki, remarkable for its producing power, and already yielding a large quantity of grain, for which a market must | be found beyond our borders, has but two shipping places, Oam -ru and Kakanui Mouth. At. both these place), flour, grain, wool, and flax are shipped by means of surf boats, an

expensive and somewhat dangerous method, and one which renders any of the above named staples liabjerto'damage by sea water. But, as with existing appliances there is no other mode, it has of course to be adopted. As the Oamaru Dock and the Kakanui Sea Wall -are vet in' embryo, and as there are doubts iv the minds of many whether these expensive works, when completed, will answer the expectations of their advocates ; and as at any rate they cannot be available for a long time, the agriculturists of. Otepopo and Kakanui have resolved to make an effort to ship their surplus produce of the present year (estimated at 240,000 bushels) by a cheaper, safer, and more expeditious means than the surf boat service affords. Whether their efforts will be successful cannot of course be confidently predicted, but the plan certainly appears worthy of a trial, more especially as, if the projectors' estimate should prove correct, the cost would be recouped in. one season, while the cost of shipment would be very much reduced. The proposed loading service consists of two wire ropes extended from the cliff at the South Head of .Kakanui (the site of South Kakanui township) to and over a loading stage supported by shear legs at a safe anchorage in the- northern bight of All-Day Bay. To this loading stage, a travelling pulley and sling upon the wire rope will convey, by its own gravity, the load of grain or other produce to be shipped, the loaded sling drawing back to the store on the cliff the empty traveller and sling, to receive its load. When ihe grain reaches the loading stage it will be -unhooked from the traveller, and be passed by tke operator on the stage along a telescope shoot On to the deck of the vessel. We may mention tbat the flax rope which connects the sling will pass round a vertical revolving cylinder, to which a break may be applied, and the velocity of the descending load may be regulated.. So far 'the plan seems perfectly feasible, -and the only point upon which doubts have been expressed is in reference to the possibility of safely mooring a schooner to receive her cargo without destroying the loading stage; but. competent authorities in coastal trading acknowledge the excellence of the precise spot; selected by the projector, and have approved the system by which he proposes to secure the safety of both vessel and stage. . The estimated cost of the whole work, exclusive of store, is under £500, and may be. so cheaply worked that in a very few hours three men will be able to load any of our coasting traders. At' a preliminary meeting of some of the largest grain growers of tbe district, held at the residence of Mr Cruickshank, Kakanui Mouth, on the 25th ult, it is understood that the report of the engineer, Mr Jobn Hardy; of Dunedin, was read and approved ; and steps are being taken to form a company to carry out the scheme in time for the first .shipments of the season's grain. The site of the proposed Loading Stage -show's smooth water except during the prevalence of south-easterly winds, and it is calculated that vessels may be safely loaded by the proposed method at times when a surf boat service is unsafe, and thus some of tbe delays and resultant dangers of the coasting service •may be avoided by tbe adoption of this simple and seemingly desirable' contrivance. If it should be successful, and we hope for the sake of the promoters and all producing interests it may, there are numberless places on the New Zealand coast to which it may be applied, greatly to the advantage of the settlers on tbe seaboard distant from the few eecognised ports, and may probably render possible extensive cultivation and consequent production in districts which may be too remote for profitable tillage without this or a similar mode of shipment.