The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, JAN. 18, 1878.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 184, 18 January 1878, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, JAN. 18, 1878.

In last issue ire published reports of interviews of two deputations which waited upon Ministers in Dunedin, regardingthe construction of railwaysin the Tiipanui district. The. one deputation wished the railway to start from the Waikaka Station of the main South Trunk, and run by the Waikaka Valley, through North Glenkenich and Green vale districts to Kelso ; thence to Spylaw and the Teviot. The second deputation urged the immediate formation of the line from Waipahi to the township of Tapanui for the construction of which a large extent of land was reserved during' last session of General Assembly. Notwithstanding the unpardonable neglect with which these districts have been treated by successive Governments, it was scarcely to be expected that amends would be so fully made as the simultaneous construction of two lines of railway to nearly the same spot would imply. Indeed there are plenty of precedents leading to the conviction, that unless the inhabitants could themselves arrive at some degree of unanimity as to the route the railway should take, the Government in all likelihood j would terminate the disputation by deciding to form neither line in the meantime. And we njay add. they could have done so without the fear of serious consequence when they shall again meet the Representatives of the people. We are glad, however, to be ■ informed that a compromise has been ! effected between the two parties, and that it has been arranged .the railway will diverge at Waipahi, and, passing "within three-quarter.? of a mile of the township of Tapanui, go on to Kelso. Thus the, inhabitants of Tapanui. will enjoy to the fullest extent, all the advantages of railway communication, while at the same time these advantages will be extended to many of those who petitioned in favour of a different route. These latter will also have the additional advantage that the route agreed'upon is the nearest one to the Main Line and

the metropolis. All will agree that the compromise is a very fair and reasonable one, and we trust to see the line constructed without* further delay. INo doubt the termvnus will not long be continued at Kelso, as from that point lines will be formed east through the Flerriot Hundred, and west through Waikaka. In the meantime the proposed line from Waipahi will tap the centre of the Tapanui district, and we congratulate our readers in that quarter upon the near prospect of having their wants supplied so far as railway communication is concerned, and their long neglected claims attended to.