THE Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 1878.

Inangahua Times, Volume 73, Issue 73, 23 August 1878, Page 2

THE Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 1878.

Revkiitino to the question of tho EflHfc and West Couafc Kail way, we find on perusing tha report of tho rooent meoting of the Christchnroh Chamber of Commerce on tho subject that the opinions expressed were not altogether unanimous aa to the direction the lino { should tako. ftfter leaving Amberloy. Somo of tho Bpeakerfl appear to have boon of the opinion that the Chamber should not mako any BpociOc recommondation as to tho route, beyond that Amborley should bo made the starting point, the rent being left to the discretion of the Government, and finally this course was agreed upon. Somo diacusaiou took place; however, upon tho subject of the most; advanban geous route. Tho Chairman, in the course of his remarks upon tho Amber* ley route, said that the line would pnss Ueefton before reaching Groymouth, and open up a country not inferior to any in this island. Tho establishment of direct communication botwoen Cmim terbury and Keofton, ho said, would in itself bo of very great; advantage to Canterbury, Sir U. Wilson said he knew tho country through which the Amberloy-Hurunui line would pass and he was of opinion that the railway could not be taken thofc way without much difficulty, but ho believed there would be no difficulty about taking the road by tho right bank of the "Wniau. Mr C. F. Barker, another member of tho Chamber, who was also acquainted with tho country through which the j desired railway would pass, said that tho lino advocated by Sir C. Wilson was unquestionably the best as it would open up something like 200,000 acres of agricultural land. Mr Ingles questioned whether ho largo an area nd 200,000 acres of lnnd would be opened up by the railway, as the country north of Hurunui was of a poor quality. Ho pointed out the different linos by wbijh tho railway could bo takon. Ho spoke of tho line fr:im Amberloy' vin Hum* nui, Luke Suinnor, and Ahaura Vnlloy, as the Bhortodfc ; the route via Waiau would bo longer ; but would, ho said, open up more country. Other speakers followed, but their remarks containod nothing further ns bearing upon tho question of routes. From nil this there is to bo gathered tho fact that, na far as Canterbury is concerned, thoro is a decided preforonco in favor of tho Am« borloy<« Waiau lino, as against that of Amberleynnd Hurunui. There h also to bo said in favor of tho Waiuu Valley loute that a detail survey baa already been made of the country botwoen Amberley and tho Waiau, and a sum of money was placed on the Estimates last year to extond the railway fifteon miletf in that direction. Keofton is shown on the mup to be some distunco lo tho north of a line drawn between Amberley and Greyraouth, but as the extension of the Amberley railway to the Waiau is, or shortly will be, in progress, taking the latter place as the starting point, Uoefton is brought very much nearer to, the lino spoken 6f. If, then, as one of tho speakers at the meeting remarked, the greatest area of good agricultural land lies in the Waiau country and north of ifc, tho question arises «a to whetle- tho more advantageous route for the railway would not bo between tho Waiau and tho Inangahua. We have ifc on tbe assurance of Mr George Walker of the Mawliorita Plains, that Ohristchurch is within two days ride of his station, and he has lepoatedly made the journey with cattle and sheep. Mr Walker's station is within a short distance of the Saddle at tho sourco of the Inannngahua, and beyond the dividing range into Chrisfcchuroh is described, as boing flat, undulating country, free from many of the obstacles which would besot tho construction of tho lino via the Amuri. The greatest ascent to bt3 made on this lino would bo over tho Spencer llange, tho pass in which ia said to bo very much lower than that of tho Amuti, We have endeavored to obtain iui'or nation from the Survey department here in confirmation or otherwise of thoso statements, but find that there is no map in the office dos« cribing tho country in question. Mr l\ Q. Caple*, and Mr 0. Walsh of, Ueotton, who havo both passed over tho country referred to, fully oudorse what Mr Walker hna said. Guided, then, by these representation we are of tho opinion that the line via tbe Waiau to l<eefton offers immensely superior advantages to that of tho Amuri. The distance may bo longer, but tho vast breadth ot good agr cultural country which it would open up on the Canterbury side as well as this, added to the iuct of its including the Inangahua in tho direct route, and thus gotting rid of the necessity of constructing a branch line from Ahaura, would seem to fully outweigh all other considerations. It is almost needless to point out that the question is one of tho most vital importance to this di»~ tricfc, and ifc Would therefore bo well if steps were taken to urge upon tho Government tho advisability of a care* ful exploration of this lino before adopting any othor. Wo are far from desiring that thero should bo any dis* sonsion regurding the merits of tho two routes, but an tho ono great object of railway communication with |,ht) \Vf »t Coast would be n ocui'od by tho adoption of niihor, it is only a fjneßr.ion «h to which is llifcJ«Jost[adviuiUinoouß, ttud wo foci auto Mint it it can bo slwwn by

survey that tho Hho hero spoken ofoffeifl, as wo boliovo it doca, in comparable ad« rantgoa, it will bo oyen moro roodily supportod on all eides than iho othor Tia Amuri, Tho I'ublto Works Statomont will bo delivered to»night, and upon that wo shall tako tho opportunity of again referring to tho subject.