RAILWAY COMMUNICATION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 790, 8 June 1877, Page 3

RAILWAY COMMUNICATION.

(to the editor of the dunstan .times.) Sir,—Unless the’people T of the Dunstan District are indlfferent’to their own'welfare, it is high time they bestirred themselves in the matter of railway communication. Various projects are afoot.for'conneoting the interior with the seaboard, but none of them appear to me to be of a nature to advance our interests. Oamani and fNaseby are fighting for a line connecting those ships ; but the notion of such a circuitous line being of any service to this part of the country is simply preposterous. Tapanui wants a branch from) Waipahee, but this also seems to be too far round to benefitjthe Dunstan(l greatly.fiSj What fwe’{(require I is direct communication, by the shortest route, with'Dunedin. But'jTuapeka, (having obtained all it wants, is supremely apathetic, being content, or rather desirous, that matters {should rest as they’are, so that Lawrence may be permanently the terminus. Weimust jnot, I think, expect any (aid in thatjdirection. Unless, vigorous effort is made, the probable consequence will be that railways will be)[constructed from all partsjofi the’eompass towards, but never reaching’us. I hope.the electors will not stand idly by, with folded arms, dumbly awaiting thej issue of (events. Tho destiny, and, by consequence, the ' prosperity orjdepression jfof a people is ever dnjltheir own hands. Hercules will not, 9 nor([could he, pull them out of tho ditch if they are content to lie there.; 4' It is our duty to be up and stirring now, whilst the (question of railway extension is under'[consideration, and to let the ( Government and the.Parliament know what we'have'.to sayjon( a subject which so nearly concerns ns. It is easy to turn a current at its source, but not so when it has acquired’atrength through'lack of resistance ; and [matters[of public, policy are decided pretty much in the direction indicated at their initiation. If we do not take action at once I fear it will soon be too late to do so. I therefore urge upon the Mayors of the several municipalities the desirability of convening public meetings to consider this important question 9 with as little delay as possible.—Yours, etc., Vincent Pyke.