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Evening Post, Issue 43, 29 March 1865, Page 2

Wheh the vexed question of who shall be Superintendent is finally set at rest — when the New Executive and Provincial Councils are formed — when, in fact, the troublesome electioneering times are over, and we can point at the ambition of our fellow settlers as a good joke — then, and not till then, may we hope to see those improvements that are so much needed in Wellington commenced. At present the public works of this province are at a standstill ; with the exception of that , which the Town Board . is doing to the roads and other minor works, there is no

exertion being made towards the development of the resources of this province. We must keep pace with the times, and it only requires exertion and enterprise is to realise the glorious future that appears to be within our grasp. Speaking of Wellington, the Illustrated London News says — " It is likely to become a place of much importance. It is not only the capital of a th iving province of that name ; but, while it rivals Auckland as a commercial port, it has some pretensions to supersede that town as the metropolis of the whole colony, for which purpose Wellington has a great advantage by its central position among the several provinces of the North and the Middle Island. It has been selected by the Panama, New Zealand, and Australian Royal Mail Company as the port of arrival and departure for their ocean steamers ; and it lies almost directly in the track of the homeward bound vessels from Australia." Thus the geographical advantages of Wellington are acknowledged by all who have made our island home the subject of inquiry. But, as we have said before, we must make the most of the present time, and push forward works that in their result will do more for our future progress than the seat of Government. We have attained two great and important advantages — Wellington is the metropolis of the colony, and she will be the port of arrival and departure for the steamers on the Panama route. Having gained these tributary streams towards prosperity, we must not rest on our oars, and say enough. There is a great deal to be done. What we hare, our central position has given us ; what we want, must be due to onr own exertions to obtain. One of the most important works that requires to be do % ie — an undertaking that cannot be too highly estimated — is the making of roads through and across this island. Roads and rapid communication are immense civilisers. If we refer to the ancient history of any European country, we find that roads were the chief considerations either for the subjugation of a country, or for peaceful settlement and firm ,'government, as well as being the only means of progress and development of resources. This is a work that essentially belongs to the General Government; it might come under the head of military roads. With open communication through and across the Northern Island, we should have nothing to fear from the natives who have hitherto retarded its progress ; their guerilla mode of warfare would be usekss, and they would have to succumb to the march of improvement and civilisation.