WAIPAHI VERSUS TUAPEKA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 551, 8 November 1872, Page 2

WAIPAHI VERSUS TUAPEKA.

, In a previous issue we compared the rc* • lativo merits of the railway routes by which it ia proposed to open up the Central districts of the province of Otago and arr rived at a conclusion favourable to the I Grand Central or Waipahi scheme. It is our intention in the following remarks to enter more, fully into details, a task, the able and exhaustive report of Mr. Millar, - F.S. A., has rendered comparatively easy. ! A glance at a map of the province shows • that to thoroughly open it up, four main - arterial lines are needed ah Eastern, ’ Western, Southern and Central one. Three ' of these have been either commenced or are ~ [ on the point of being proceeded with, while the fourth has been impeded owing to ihe ambition of the lesidents of Tuapeka. Yet perhaps <his is the most important of the four, and is certainly the one most likely [ to prove both directly and indirectly re- ' munerative, as a plain statement of the statistics of the districts to he ti.a versed will satisfactorily prove. The two staples of the country arc wool and gold, and the most productive districts are directly in ' the route of the Central Trunk Lino. It ' actually traverses, or is iu immediate proximity to twenty-four i Vina carrying about five bundled thousand sheep, r-nd is available for twice as niai y more, assessed forever a third of the total sheep in the 1 rovince, the whole producing at a moderate csrittiate twelve to fifteen thousand ’ bales of wool. While dealing with the pastoral capabilities of the Cent-al districts we must add the cattle and In rs- s, I which are reckoned very much under the mark at ten thousand head. From Waipahi , Junction to Ett.ick the line tiaVrrses a "* fine agricultural country aheady extensively settled upon, although its pr.scnt r production is but a flea-bite compared with ' its capabilities'. At Tapanui there arc- four . sawmills in constant work turning but onan average 75,000 feet per week! This yield could be indefinitely increased were carry. ' ing facilities such as the Central Trunk Line affords provided, and would iu itself almost justify the formation of a railway. In gold it is well known that two thirds of the yield comes fremthe districts inteiested ! in the construction of the Central railway, , and as the miners are the chief Consumers the carriage of supplies to the gold-fields’ centres will form no inconsiderable item in the profits of a railway. And it must be . remembered that increased facilities of carriage means increased production, means the development of existing arid .the discovery of still unrecognized resources, that J a line in a new country which immediately , on construction clears even its working . expenses roust, if. the country has any power of advancing at all, any enterprise or any L - resources must iu the course of time by natural progress more than amply repay the original outlay. Iu short we cannot ■ see any reasonable objection to be urged i against this line, combining as it does the . three great requisites, - cheapness of construetion, deve opment of territory, and reasonable pi osj eels of joying a fair iu- ■ terest on the capital invested in a super- . eminent degree. We Lave no objections f to a branch line being constructed to Lawrence and Tokomairiro if it is shown that • such a work can be undertaken with a due i re.ardtothe public interest, but we do . most strongly object to local and secret [ influences being permitted to elevate blanch lines and feeders over main channels of 1 traffic. If such a policy is once permitted i to pass.unquestioned, the anticipated be- ; i e its from the Public Works and Jiumlgra- , ti m Act wilt prove but imaginings, never to be fulfilled visions. Jobbery and cor- ! ruption will reign triumphant, and the new loan be expended like some of La predecessors in the most useless methods the ingenuity of Legislators can invent. It is evident from the spirited action taktn by the residents i f the Dunstan, and by our i Town Council that such a termination to i our glowing hopes will n-t be accepted tamely in this part of the Cob-ny at any rate. The first steps have been taken with ! energy and determination, and it only rc / • mains for all the rest to be done with equal spirit to ensure success. From the character . of the gentlemen who have taken the leading part such a result is pretty certain, and mi ac . of j stiee to the interior districts iro.a which the chief wealth of the province has flowed, is at last in all : probability to be accomplished. THE STAMP ACT,. 1572. The following are the alterations made by this Act as far as the residents in this i and similar inland gold-fields’ Districts are , concerned viz.,— Any Deed dedicating a roadway to the , use of the public, is exempt from duty. . Any Dee-1 relating to or concerning pro- . i erty set apart for rc igious or charitable purposes, is exempt from duty. ! The duty on receipts for 2’. and upwards ’ is to be one penny. Any writing purport* ing to be au acknowledgment, whether of • money or a bill of exchange, promissory . note, cheque, draft or order, if the value . amou its to 2 1, or more, ii liable to duty, and must bear a penny stamp There is no ■ alteration in the mode of cancellation. The > penalty for giving an unstamp- d receipt is not exc. e li. g 10/. The penalty ia the same L for dividing an amount and giving two receipts with intent to evade the duty. A 5 receipt may be stamped afterwards on pay- > meut of 51. penalty, within one mouth, or , 10/. at any later period. The duty on cheques is to be one penny. [ Adhesive stamps may be used on Transfers, (including mining Transfers) hut in ’ that case, either the seller or buy er must ■ write hia name aa that it completely crosses . the stamp, and in addition, is partly on the [ document on either s'de of the stamp. If this is not accurately done, the instrument is utterly valueless, and therefore we trust ’ our readers will not venture on this mode [ of stamping, but in the event of not procuring an impressed stamp, that they will , forward the signed document to Dunedin , for stamping at the Stamp Office there. L Further, the purchaser’s name must be in- , sorted in the Transfer before it is signed by the seller under a penalty of not less than 20/. or more than 100/., and the seller " remains liable on his shares as if he had > not sold or disposed of them. f It will no longer be necessary for two . parties at least to an Agreement to cancel r an adhesive stamp (when used). Any one party may cancel and that will besnffioient but the law that it must be done at the time of signing ami proof given thereof, is not altered. The Act comes into force cu the Ist of I December, 1572,