THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 350, 22 January 1903, Page 5

THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —There is an old adage which runs thus: "To be forewarned is to be forearmed." That the residents of this part of Otago have been forewarned to guard against the influences that will be brought to bear in opposition to a fair sum being voted by the forthcoming session of Parliament, for the continuance of the construction of the Otago Central Railway, is forcibly impressed on one who sees coming events by the shadows of the present. A few days ago the Hon. the Minister for Public Works cast the first shadow of a coming event. He stated to a deputation from Catlin's River Railway League that the advocates of the Otago Central Railway might now halt so that a larger vote might be given towards the construction of smaller lines. A very generous suggestion indeed, but one which does not commend itself to advocates of one of the most important railways under construction in the colony. It is clear to the residents of Central Otago that the enemies of the Otago Central Railway are actively engaged in influencing the Hon. the Minister for Public Works to stop progress on this line. As a counterpoise to any such malign influence the people here must be actively watchful, alert to meet every movement that may retard the continuous prosecution of this work necessary to the development of the resources of this district. It seems as if the Government, intends crying a halt at Ophir. The Hon. Mr Hall-Jones has indicated that the line would be completed to Ophir in about 12 months. This, no doubt, can be accomplished with the present vote in hand. Therefore, if a halt be called at Ophir, no vote, if only a very small one, will be asked from Parliament next session for the Otago Central. Granted that the line will be completed to Ophir in the time named by the Minister, then, if steady prosecution of the work is to go on with unabated vigor, it is safe to assume that the Department has well in hand the construction of the two bridges to cross the Manuherikia River as well as the one to span the Manorburn. But this is not so, for the contracts for the superstructure of these bridges have not yet been let, nor will they be let till the Minister is assured that a sufficient sum has been voted by Parliament to meet the necessary cost following on the'letting of the tenders for the superstructure of the bridges. From the activity of the opponents of the Otago Central at the present juncture, from the utterances of the Hon. the Minister for Publis Works, from the fact that the tenders for the superstructure of the abovenamed bridges have not been let, from the fact that the Hon. the Minister for Public Works will . conciliate the House by asking for a low vote for public works at the sitting of Parliament, I deduce that a halt at Ophir will be deemed expedient and further progress of ary moment stopped for a year at least. I may be considered pessimestic in my conclusions and in reading! the signs somewhat awry ; at the same time no one who judges the future from the experiences of the [past but will concur with my coni elusions.—l am, &c, Nestor.