CONSTRUCTION OP RAILWAYS.

39

D.—No. Gb

No detailed estimate has been prepared of the cost of the South Line extension to the Eakaia; but a fair approximate of the cost may be ascertained by comparison with the Northern, in which it is found that no material difference occurs in the earthwork; and as the cost of permanent way, ballasting, fencing, &c, will be the same per mile in both cases (assuming the same description of rail be used), the cost of the one will form a good basis for the other, by excluding the bridges, none being required on the Southern. The estimate may therefore be taken as follows : — Northern line per mile, as per detailed estimate ... ... ... £4,900 Deduct bridges ... ... ... ... ... ... 540 £4,360 Estimate for South Line per mile, or 11 miles 10 chains @ £4,360 per mile ... ... ... ... ... ... ... £48,505 This might possibly, in practice, be reduced to £4,000, as fewer culverts, gates, &c, would be required than on the Northern, which runs through a more populous district. I have, &c, G. Thornton, The Secretary for Public Works. Eailway Engineer.

No. 37. Memorandum by His Honor W. Eoixeston. 20th August, 1870. The attached letter by Mr Selby Tancred, C.E., gives in a compendious form a comparative view of the existing traffic on the Southern Bailway, and that which may be anticipated on the Northern Bailway. The actual returns on the Southern Line are in your possession. The anticipated returns on the Northern Line would, in accordance with this estimate give a net profit of £7,181 per annum, on an expenditure, as estimated by Mr. Tancred, of £119,700. I would only observe in explanation, that " White's Bridge " is that over the Waimakariri, at a distance of eleven miles from Christchureh, on the Northern Line ; and that the traffic returns over this bridge, which is the only means of crossing the river, were taken by the Provincial Government. Mr. Tancred's letter will repay perusal on other grounds. The Hon. J. Vogel. W. Eolleston.

Enclosure 1 in No. 37. Extract from Letter, Mr. Selbt Tancred, A.1.C.E., to His Honor the Superintendent, Canterbury. Sir,— Christchurch, 19th October, 1869. In the case of the Northern Railway, the first point would be to convince, if they are not already convinced, the inhabitants of the district traversed by the line of the advantage of such to themselves, and of the slight liability they incurred. To this end inquiry must be directed— 1. To the anticipated traffic. 2. To the anticipated cost. 3. To the system of contract for the line. 4. Their combined effect upon the ratepayers. By comparing the populations of the districts severally affected by those railways now in existence, and the projected line, with the areas affected by each, we shall arrive at a tolerably accurate idea of the amount of traffic to be anticipated. We find in the Ellesmere, Halswell, Templeton, Springs, Lincoln, Spreydon, and Courtenay districts— Under grain crops ... ... ... ... ... 42,395 acres Otherwise cultivated ... ... ... ... ... 48,963 ~ which contribute to the present traffic. In the Mandeville, Eangiora, Oxford, Biccarton, Avon, Cust, and Kowai, we find Under grain crops ... ... ... ... ... 23,000 acres Otherwise cultivated ... ... ... ... ... 42,000 „ Thus we have the acreage under grain standing in the ratio of 43 to 23. . The electoral rolls show the following results : — North District ... ... ... ... ... ... 9,928 Christchurch District ... ... ... ... ... ... 18,926 South District ... ... ... ... ... ... 3,974 The traffic over "White's Bridge, for one month, compared with traffic over the railways for the same month (February, 1869), bears a striking analogy to the above. Number of Persons. Traffic —Passengers over White's Bridge ... ... ... ... 5,857 Lyttelton and Christchurch Railway ... ... ... ... 9,658 Great Southern Kail way ... ... ... ... ... ... 2,420