The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1873.

Dunstan Times, Issue 561, 17 January 1873, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1873.

Beneath the Rule of Men entirely just the pen i* mightier than the sword.

Th* determination of the Provincial Government to oj en up, with all ] ossible speed, a track to Martin’s Bay must be viewed with much satis, taction by the people on the Northern Gold-fields ; moie especially those resident in the towns on the main line »f route between Dunedin and Lake Wakatip. The settlement, at Martin’s Bay has not proceeded veiy auspiciously as yet; still, many a bad beginning has a good ending, and we see no reason fot an exception in this case. The necessity for communication by land between the sea-board in the east and the sea-board in the west has long been felt, and the present action taken by the Provinc al Government promises shortly to supply this much-needed want, as, with a horse-track to Martin’s Bay for a beginning, the Great Northern Load through the Gold fields will become the highway for traffic through Otago, when it will be said no longer that our mads lead |to nowhere Martin’s Bay, though very sparsely populated at present, presents many future advantages. It is the reareal point of land fir practical communication between New Zealand and Austra’ia, and we may pretty safely predict the day is not far distant when the ].resent passenger trade between Dunedin and the Australian Colonies will be diverted via the Dunstan, LakeWakatip, and Martin’s,pay.. The railway system how in course of inauguration will do much towards accomplishing this end. The shoi test route between any two points is being universally adopted all over the world, and, to accomplish this, the most extraordinary difficulties ha*e be°n overcome, while treasure has been lavishly expended, and, with our present rate of go-a-headism, New Zealand is not likely to be behindhand with others. A railway to Martin’s Bay is not at all improbable, It has for some time been contemplated , l.y his Honor th Superintendent, if his late election speeches are reliable; but, whoever fnay he Superintendent in the future, the necessities of the. older settled portions of the Province will demand roilway communication to the West Coa-t, It is from there that our supplies must eventually rom" ; likewi-e lituminous ccal—both oi which nim

:a inexhaustible quantities. In the ninttef of timber, the demand is a apid y increasing one, and as we go m developing our quartz reefs more 'dll be required, and access must be ud to the great stores on the West oast. The distance is but small.' ■ i r h all the contortions to avoid ■ocky projections and precopices, it loes not exceed.-fifty mi es ; and, with i thorough exploration of the Greentone and Hollyford valleys, we have •very reason to believe that no more difficulties for a waggon road or railway exist than between < l\de and Dunedin. The engagement entered into between the Government and an old Dnnstan resident, Mr. James Sandison, for the formation of a bridle track is about the best course that could have been adopted. To draw up plans and specifications, as is usually cl no in road-making, is, in this case, supeifluous Mr. Sandison. being |iernutted to chose his own track, onlv confining him to a given gradient and a fixed sum for payment, bids fair to accomplish the work cheaply and speedily. The same system was adopted in the const ruction of the present roul between Clyde and Cromwell, and it was done for something like one-fourth of the Provincial Engineer’s estimate. We are not aware of the exact amount to be paid to Mr. Sandison ; still we know it is sufficiently small that, upon the completion of the undertaking, no one wpuld find fault even if Mr. Sandison were paid double. Of Mr. Sandison’s ability to fulfil his contract, we have no nonbt. He has had considerable experience in making roads through almost inaccessible places, while his knowledge of rough- snowy country is greater than has fallen to the lot of most men It was to his energy and exertion that we have the shelter sheds over the Garrick Range to Campben’s as well as the sheds and tracks between the Pass, Nokomai, and the head of the Waikii, all of which mountainous country he has rendered accessible and safe for travellers. In opening up communication between Lake Wakatip and Martin’s Bay the Government have secured a valuable servant, and we ran only hope that the same go- d results will attend his present undertaking as has been the case heretofore.