THE GREATEST NEED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1246, 30 September 1911, Page 13

THE GREATEST NEED.

COMPLETION OF THE MAIN TRUNK LINE. "What do you consider to be Marlborough's greatest need, from a commercial point of view?" asked a Dominion representative of a prominent Blenheim merchant. "The completion of tin South Island Main Trunk line—and wo are doing our best to get it pushed through in the quickest possiblo time," was tho prompt reply. "In what way are your efforts to hasten the line directed?" "We have a Land and Railway League." "Quite eo, but what has tho league done in a practical way? Tell mo something about it." "If Its 'copy' you want, you had bettor see Mr. Redwood Coulter, lie is tho authority on railway matters here, and for many years has' been the moving spirit of the league. Ho will be able to tell you what has been done." Accordingly tho representative of this journal sought Mr. K. 1\ Coulter, and made his mission known. Mr. Coulter was very courteous, but declined to be regarded as a "moving spirit" or to discuss his own work in connection with the league, beyond Admitting that ho had taken a prominont part in its formation, and had been president for a number of

years. Ho gladly supplied a few particulars of what had been dono by tho lenguo in tho past, and what it was desired to attain in the future. It is quite impossible in the limited space availablo to give anything even in the nature of a resume of what has been I aciomplishtd, and brief reference will be made only to some of tha more'important matters which have claimed attention. In addition fc urging the early completion of tho SouVi: Island .Alain Trunk railway, stated Mr. Coulter, much vflhiablo work has bceu done in promoting close settlement along tho route as the line of railway lias advanced. Previous , to the formation of tho leagiK. in 18W, the- question of continuing tho lbslon-Blenheim line through to Christcliurch was scarcely treated by the Government as a matter for serious consideration in the present dfly and, genoration, Tho lino was regoxdod as a purely local affair, and for many yeara had appeared in tha Publio j

ifoiks Statement as the "Blenheim. Awatore railway." The formation, had been, continued for about ten miles 60uth of Blenheim, but the rails were not laid. The culverts which had been put down were roltiug', and the largo sum of money spent on tlio line was earning nothing. Immediately after its formation tho league set to work to remove tho parochial Blenheim-Awatero idea with regard to tho wotI;, and to secure proper recognition of tho colonial importance of tho undertaking. It was some time lieforo they succeeded in gaining this point, but tho agitation at least had the effect of broadening tho discussion of tho project. Tho line is now'officially referred to ns tho South Island. Main Trunk railway. Early in its history t'lie league commenced to

urgo not only the completion of tho line from Blenheim to Christchurch, but tho immediate acquirement of Starborough and Flaxbourue estates, which the Primo Minister was accustomed to refer to when deputations waited upon him as a "lion in the path of the railway." Tho subsequent taking of tkeso' estates, tho protracted and costly litigation with regard to Flaxbournc, tho "subdivision anil.,settlemcnt of tho lands, and.the quite phenomenal prosperity of the settlers as a result of tho moderate rentals they were required to pay, are matters of common knowledge. Vl , t Some little time previous to tho formation of tho league an amount of fivo thousand pounds had been placed on tho Estimates for bridging tho Awatore River, and owing to the delay in commencing tho railway bridgo tho County Council decidcd to ask tho Government to utiliso tho money for the erection of a cart bridgo over tho river on the Redwood Pass Road. Had this been given effect to tho probabilities are that tho crossing of tho river by tlio railway would liavo been still further delayed. Tho league at onco commenced to urgo the building of acombined railway and traffic bridge. Much agi- | tation followed, and eventually a contract was let for a bridge, to cost twenty-two thousand pounds, au'd tlio fine structure was opened in October, 1902. In urging tho rapid construction of the lino to Christchurch tho lcaguo has always laid stress upon tho fact that large areas of fertile lands would be opened up, and. that as a trunk line it would not only increaso tho earnings of the HurumiiBluff line, but of tho Xorth Island Main Trunk line as well. The progiess which is now being made with the line still fair from satisfied Marlborough folk, but they liavo tho satisfaction of knowing that the progress has been materially hastened as a result of tho league's rep •osentations. Tho Seddon-Ward section has been laid down in quick time, compared with tho shocking manner in which the BlenheimSeddon stretch was dealt with. The question of whether the lino will pay has been satisfactorily demonstrated so far as it lias gone. Its value to Blenheim and Picton is beyond question. Apart from tho valuable work which tho Marlborough Land and Railway Leaguo has done in pushing on the con-

struclion of the railway and the promotiou of closer settlement, its members, individually and collectively, have dono much to make the advantages of Marlborough as a health find tourist resort lv>como mora widely known. When the lino i.s eventually open to traffic right through' from the HlufT, it is certain that the number of visitors lo thy wonderful Sounds will greatly increase. Jlr. D. .M'Callmn is the president of (ho league at the present (imp, and (lie vigorous policy which lms characterised the institution since its inception is being maintained.