AKAROA RAILWAY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 367, 27 January 1880, Page 2

AKAROA RAILWAY.

To the Editor of the Akaroa Mail

Sir,—ln my letter of the 17th instant, desiring to show that the Akaroa Railway was not '■ up a tree " as alleged by your correspondent " Fosco," I enumerated the more important works effected on the line, and I would pursue the subject further by animadverting on that which yet remains to be done, and on the mode of doing it. I express my opinions and my reasons for them, conscious, of course, that cause may hereafter appear for modifying both. Assuming that the further extension of the line to Little River is no longer a question respecting which any reasonable Peninsula settler need entertain a doubt, then ensues for consideration'—what remains to be done ? which is. of course, to achieve the further extension of the line to the harbor—an object to which all that has been, and is being, done is merely supplementary.

Now, it appears clearly enough to me that, before any further steps be taken to promote this desired object, it is expedient in the highest degree that the final determination of the locality at which the line should approach the harbor should be arrived at. Sueing tho very large outlay eventually involved, and the magnitude of the interests appertaining, this becomes a matter of the greatest importance, and, pending its settlement, no "efforts of an effective character are likely to be made by those individually the most interested ; for efforts, to be effective, must be prompted by earnestness and unanimity, and this local jealousies would render unattainable under existing circumstances, tbe owners and occupiers of land in each bay averring that their bay possesses in a greater degree than does any other the various desiderata needed for shipping and railway accommodation. But it must be borne in mind that tho harbor is the property of the settlers of New Zealand, not that solely of those of Akaroa and other parts of the Peninsula, and it is simply reasonable to assume that no sane Government would make the minor interests of the latter other than a subordinate consideration, the primary one being, of course, that of New Zealand.

The harbor is universally admitted to be one of the best in the colony, and is, without doubt, destined to become one of tho most important, and the desire general amongst all but those personally interested elsewhere is that it should be utilised by being rendered accessible. No Government can be, or is, ignorant of this, and as the more profitable occupation of the colonial acres proceeds, so will the colonial need and desire that the harbor be made available, increase, and gather force, It is expedient to dwell upon this, as it constitutes a powerful auxiliary to local effort, and for other reasons which will bye-and-bye be apparent. Then, in anticipation of the extension of the line to the harbor, let tho locality of the final terminus be determined. And how? _ Why, by eschewing the consideration of all local prejudices, interests, and bias whatsoever, and rinding means to determine definitely that part of the harbor capable of affording the greatest degree of safety to the mercantile ■marine. Facilities for the reception and discharge of cargo would doubtless be points commanding weighty consideration, but be allogthcr subordinated, I apprehend, to the question of safety. Now, the denizens of Akaroa contend that these principal requirements are afforded in the greatest degree by their bay. But the Government cannot be expected to accept a conclusion formed by those so deeply interested unless conclusively confirmed by data of an authoritative and independent character. But if their bay be really distinguished by the advantages they claim for it, let means be devised for securing the authoritative and independent data required. This •determined affirmatively, then arc the interests of the Akaroa settlers shown to be in accord with the interests of New Zealand, which in this matter dominates over ail others, and a settlement obtained of much that needs being settled. The attainment of such result would terminate the chaotic state of local opinion prevailing on the subject, and supply definite determinations upon which further proceedings could be based. For instance, if Akaroa Bay be the place where the mercantile marine that is, and is to be, shall in the near future rendezvous, then is it assured that Akaroa will be the place where the piers, wharves, warehouses, and other multitudinous requirements must be provided, and where of i necessity the coveted raihvay terminus must be established. But if the Akaroa Bay be not the best place for the purposes indicated, it is none the less desirable that that best place should be found, and its locality defined. The reasons advanced for this would equally apply to one place as to another, and until it is settled the extension of the line through, or over, the hill is not to be expected, or on general gronnds, to bo desired. Moreover, this determination is a colonial need, as well as a loco! one, and colonial aid mhdit U-, in lact, oiivh.t to be, soliched. ~ '■ Lt.'t i ;!;.:.k the oiiouiuataneos oro such 1 us to re.'pilio the fittciuion of the iLuhvay Committee. Tnis hotly wa e;;;.coiaiiy constituted to advance and footer the work, I and no otasr local body "v. ko fitly co;,:.;ii-I tuted, or so well adapted for I:. Uhe.-.-.; ! tho work has progn ;-sed : : ■ ;: . :,: , ciiuri oe t'n.'ir ;, ,]■'■ : \, ■ ■ . ~ . ;. : . j

...,, .<::-: ... , ; ,.;. : ..::.: . I'ijo <-b;ve:-j-wuer,t has resumed possession thereof certainly, but with it the Government have also entailed the responsibility of effecting the works which the endowment was made. It therefore becomes a matter of serious consideration that the endowment be wisely administered. The Government holding it in trust, could not be other than gratified by local aid and suggestions for its profitable disposition. These things, I suggest, should be attended to at once. I can see nothing to be gained, but much to be lost by delay. The meeting of the Railway Committee would probably accord with the desires of "Progress" and " Fosco," each ' expressing the opinion that benefit would accrue " from the occasional discussion" of local matters by local men, and I with them greatly deplore the apathy that prevails generally in reference to local matters. In fact in this country the existence of political evils of a general or local character is to be attributed entirely to the apathy displayed by its people. Philanthropic politicians may exhaust their powers in fashioning or framing a constitution which shall secure to their constituents power and liberty ; but their efforts will be in vain unless the latter second these efforts by some display of energy and intelligence. The shipwright may place upon the waves a craft, faithful in construction and faultless in design ; but unaided by energy and intelligence, this capable structure is but a helpless drifting hulk, incapable of effecting one useful purpose, and inevitably doomed to destruction. Place, however, in this craft of faithful construction and faultless design, some able, seamen ; some energy and intelligence—wonderful the transformation. A drifting hulk no longer,

" She walks' the waters like a thing of life, Free to the breeze she unbosoms her sail, And her pennon streams onward like hope in the gale. The winds como around her in murmur and song,

And the surges rejoice as they murmur along."

An object of general admiration, capable of rendering countless benefits to mankind, and testifying to the skill of her builder. Now some of the various ordinances devised for the local administration of power differ not widely from the " drifting hulk," and from the .same cause—the absence of energy or of intelligence, or of both. This is a result which every Abou Ben Adhem—every " lover of his fellow men " must seek to remedy.

But I must not conclude this letter without alluding to one man who is never apathetic when the interests of his constituents are affected. I refer to William Montgomery. His unflagging zeal in the discharge of the multifarious duties imposed on him as our representative, cannot be exceeded, and his attention to our manifold wants and wishes is unremitting. I say this much because I observe that some of his " candid friends" have been insinuating causes of complaint that are utterly groundless.—l am, yours, &c,

G. R. JOBLIN,

Little River, Jan. 20, 1880

To the Editor of the Akaroa Mail.

Sir,—Having read Mr ! 'Joblin's letter re " Railway" two or three times, I fail to make out a great part of it; whether it is my ignorance or the superfluity of language, Ido not know. Mr Joblin says that the mills on the River are in full work cutting sleepers for our local line. This is not a fact, as neither of them are cutting a sleeper for this line, and to all appearance will not be asked to do so for an unlimited time. I gather from Mr Joblin's letter that he advocates the late graded line running through his and other property in the most insane manner that can be imagined. In one instance, crossing a creek, there will.be as. viaduct 300 ft high, and embankments; .that will cost £1000 per yard, running, (known to be impracticable) and extending a distance of some eight miles,' andquite useless to the bulk of the timber trade, running through rocks, landslips, gorges, &c, requiring bridges of every design, with no other object than to shorten the tunnel. Now I will undertake to say that there is not a sane man in the county (or out of it) that would for one moment advocate such a line. Mr Joblin would endeavor to blind us with language that is incomprehensible, and at the same time pitching plums to his friends in office. What we want is a line that will be useful when made, no matter what the length of the tunnel, or cost of same ; and I think the Peninsula people are not getting justice in having this work put oil' even for a single day. We do not want any more promises from any Government, we only want our due.

Your eorreaponuents " Bramble " and "Cosmopolitan " say "agitate and wake up the local talent." I think I may say that the Peninsula people have done more in the way of hard perseverance arid work to help themselves without the assistance of outside aid, and in a more independent spirit than any other district in the Province of Canterbury, and dulness will not apply to them. The very contract that is being carried out now is out of their own funds, unci not out of the loan. Did not they send a petition (in fact two) not six months ago, and signed by almost every person on the Peninsula, asking to have the railway proceeded with, and who has heard of it, or what good has it done ? Do we ever see the Christchurch papers make scarcely a single remark about our railway? No ; and why ? Because they thinkg-it would divert a part of the trade from tnat city and the port. And again, only the other day the Springs Road Board reported having £10,000 and edd to their credit at the Bank (more than the present contract for the Little River Railway), although they have good roads and a railway system running through their district. There are other Boards in the Selwyn County which have similar amounts or more to their credit, and who was the first and the present chairman, our admitted friends, the Hon. John Hall and W. Rollcston. And what are the funds i i rl 11 lln Aktioi County, or any of i intj Bcudij ? k mue nothing; ] ci m jouk of th Boaids Jl In isuli ptop'c i o as mtelliy i 1 'm o i 1 eir mlucsts and tbe I 11 ( d a m othci d and the i I t i ii n <' Mi Edii n< i r the part of " } I ni and if _i.nL ) l v m n r ioncd, - to mcmbei muueed \ *__, to be -Hicere with the Peninsula, they must pro-

<-ccd with tbe work at once, and nothing lois.—Yours truly, ONE WHO IS LOSING FAITH IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE

POWERS,

Little River, Jan, 24,1880^"'