The Gauge.

“It is somewhat interesting to note that while a 5ft. 3in. gauge was adopted for the Lyttelton-Christchurch line, the first lines constructed in Auckland and Otago had the standard English gauge of 4ft. 8½in. Had the construction of railways in New Zealand proceeded piece-meal by the provinces in the fashion it commenced, no doubt New Zealand would have now a variety of railway gauges such as exists in Australia to-day. These gauge troubles, however, were finally solved by the historic Railways Act of 1870, and the 3ft. 6in. gauge was adopted as a standard for the Dominion. At this period forty-seven miles of railway were in operation, of which twenty-nine miles were in Canterbury—the line extending from Selwyn to Lyttelton—and it is worthy of note that even in those early days the progressive spirit of the Canterbury people was evident.