THE WEST COAST RAILWAY QUESTION.

Western Star, Issue 260, 31 August 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE WEST COAST RAILWAY QUESTION.

The following table has been supplied to the ‘ Grey River Argus ’ by the local railway committee : APPROXIMATE DISTANCES (BY SCALE). Greymouth to Christchurch.

i Greymouth to Dunedin, via Haast Pass, 460 miles, as follows ; Miles. Greymouth to mouth of Haast river .. .. 160 Haast river to Cromwell 170 Cromwell to Dunedin 130 I Total .. 400 ! The Premier telegraphs to the Railway Committee at Hokitika that an engineer will examine and report on the various suggested routes during the recess ; and that the time of commencing the line will then be determined by the Cabinet. Mr Gisborne also telegraphs : “Am strongly in favor of southern line proposed. No chance of Parliament definitely considering it till explo- ■ ratory survey has been made, showing j practicability of line, and lands opened; will I simply urge survey in meantime. If feasible i scheme for line from Amberley to Hokitika I proposed, would support it; would not like ! to see both schemes shelved by discord.—W. Gisborne.” Christchurch, August 20.— At a meeting of the Ashley County Council, yesterday, a motion was adopted in favor of the West Coast route being via Amberley, and a letter was drafted on the subject to be despatched to the Minister of Public Works.

Altitude of Made Unmade Total Passes. Miles. Miles. Miles. 2,910ft via Carruthers’ Pass 87 140 177 2,053ft via Hope Pass 37 120 157 2,452ft via Hurunui Pass 30 120 150 4,052ft via Taipo Pass . 40 9 135 4,767ft via Browning’s Pass 30 125 135 2,412ft via Whitcombe Pass 30 130 100