The Lyttelton-Christchurch Railway.

To this end he would transmit, for the consideration of the Council, a proposal to construct a line of railway from Lyttelton to Christchurch. This line would involve a tunnel through the heights behind Lyttelton, and would, from the expensive nature of such a work, require a very large outlay of money. It would therefore remain with the Council to consider whether the ultimate advantage to be realised to the province by the completion of the work in question would, or would not, justify the required disbursement. page 46 There would be laid before the Council all the information then available, having regard to the practicability of the undertaking, its cost, and the probable lapse of time during its progress to completion. These questions, however, could not be satisfactorily answered except by competent engineering authority. It might be stated that there was very high authority for believing that no formidable engineering difficulty stood in the way of this work.