Correspondence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1161, 11 July 1885, Page 3

Correspondence.

RAILWAY EXTENSION TO ROXBURGH. (To the Editor.) SlB, — I sco by Wednesday's issue of the Tuapeea. Times that some correspondents try ito throw cold water on the arguments I advanced furthering the extension of tho Lawrence railway to Roxburgh, and ono in your supplement in particular, saying that there was no necessity for Teviot produce being sent to Dunedin. Granted all ho says on that score; but he throws no light on Millers Flat, and what tbc settlers there aro going to do with their produce. Now, as I said at the Roxburgh meeting, tho Bluff Harbor is not what they represented it to be, or they could get ships to take the produce away from that port ; but when Dunedin was emptied of produce the Bluff would then get it away. I am certain that there is not a single individual in the Teviot district who gets a solitary ton of goods from Invercargill in twelve months, with the exception of the fruit gardeners, who, I believe, are getting trees from that place, as I suppose they thrive better than those they get from Dunedin, Looking at distances,* I find that from Dunedin to Millers Flat is only 80 miles, while from Dunedin to Moa Flat is 120 miles j so I certainly object to pay for the extra mileage, and what is worse still, I have to cart produce or goods a distance of 6 or 8 miles to catch the railway that would come via Swift Creek, whereas the one via Lawrenco would pass within a Bhort distance of where I live. For the last few years, or as long as I have lived in the district, I have not sold a fat sheep or bullock' in summer time, having to either keep them until winter came or else let them eat all the grass that ought to prepare more stores for winter fattening. If an extension of the Lawrence line were made when anything was fit for market, it could" be sent to Dnnedin and there disposed of. The route via Kelso and the long distance would prevent stock being sent, as the loss would be so great. I, also find that stock comes from Waimiea Plains and' the neighborhood of Gore", also from Glenam Station, to be sold in Dunedin,, and I have no doubt if the truth were: known that heavy losses have been in curred* 1 by alL'the several senders on that railway. I may also say that being in the Dunedin cattle-market, I have seen sheep from a distance by railway sell fo>* less than what^they Were worth, owing to bruises , sustained in transit, and have !bf ten seen somo pulled out of the truck dead. ~ Taking the : district as a whole, it'would be better to have no railway than have one by Kelso, notwithstanding the good case made out by Messrs Burton and Manuel and their knowlcdgs of the subject. I think, Mr Editor, I have trespassed too much on your space already, but I have a little more yet to say on the matter regarding the two routes, as tho extension via Moa Flat means the Kolso route. —I am, , &c. , Wm, Waugh. Millers .Flat, Bth July.