The Evening Star MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2078, 3 January 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1870.

What will tlio year 1870 bring forth in public and social improvements 1 Its predecessor has left much talked about that requires attention, and unfortunately there is too much tendency with us in Otago to be content with talk. The necessity for action is not pressed upon us, or if felt by one largo section of the people, it is not acknowledged by another. It is this divided state of opinion that reduces us to inaction. In all cases of the like kind, an equal division in the number of heads pro and con paralyses action. It is as if a man had two courses before him, and was so undecided which was the best, that he was fearful to move lest he should do wrong. After the publicly expressed wish of Mr Reid that Railways should be constructed between Port Chalmers and Dunedin, and to the Clutha, we are bound to believe that so far as he is concerned they will not be allowed to fall through. It would he unfair to say that because we hear nothing of the closing with the contractor for the construction of the Port Railway, the matter will be allowed to lapse. We cannot say that we were by any means satisfied with the explanation of the Government as to their reasons for throwing the two projected companies over. They were insufficient to satisfy any unbiassed mind. If those gentlemen who had reason to imagine they had been made tools of, spoke bitterly, they had every plea for doing so. What can be more annoying than to feel those with whom you propose to deal, are playing fast and loose with you, waiting for the turning-up of a chance as to whether they will close with you or not 1 Disguise it as the dominant party will, the feud of squattocrat v. clodocrat is at the bottom of the lapse of the Clutha Railway. We can hardly trust ourselves to say what we think is at the bottom of • the anomalous state of matters as to the Port Chalmers line. So many different reasons might be given that, although no one of itself might be held sufficient, the whole combined may have had power to stop the undertaking. It was expected that these reasons would have come out during the late debate ; but one side could not state them, and the other would not. The one could not prove them had they been stated j the other wei’e not bound to confess what would have defeated the purposes they bad in view. The public therefore remains unenlightened on this point, and not knowing the cards in the hands of the players, they can only guess the course of the game by what they see. In estimating the chances, therefore, of certain works being done, it is necessary to consider who are the players, what the stake, and what their skill. Even these are difficult to arrive at, for those who play the cards are not the prompters; and herein lies the mystery. A clue might perhaps be had to the solution by considering the class of public advocates they have. Thus, for instance, we have the Daily Times, which amidst all the inconsistency that has marked its late career, has been consistent in its unceasing and-very frequently unjust comments upon his Honor the Superintendent. Although at the time of that gentleman’s election we were opposed to him, we feel bound to say, that, whatever errors may have been committed since, they are traceable to an earnest desire to developo to the utmost the resources of the Province, and that our present stagnant position is owing to the absence of a cordial co-operation of parties to that end. It is quite conceivable that the head of a Government may differ from his advisers on points of doubtful policy, but those differences, although they may finally resolve themselves into personal hostility, can never alter those sound business principles that must guide both Governments and individuals in the conduct of public works. When these are set at defiance, as we think they have been in the negotiations with the proposed railway companies, we cannot but refer the motives to some ulterior view—either there is a private or political mid to be served —or both. We believe the latter to be the case, and that the advocacy of the Daily Times of the views enunciated by the Executive with regard to railway plans, point both to the real players and the stakes. There are those who think they are interested in opposing the construction of the Port Chalmers Railway, and though their name is not legion, they are powerful so long as they play their game under cover. There may be one or more who look forward to the next electionfor political distinction. The position of the game thus far is such as to induce the two classes of players to combine to at least postpone the construction of these works. But should the political status be gained they will then, have to play against each other; for the chosen of the people, after climbing up, will

line! it to his honor to kick the stool from under him. The crowning feature of his reign will bo, that under him this and that work was done. It will bo very plain, with these, hidden motives at work', that even Mr 11 Kii>, whatever his desire may be to forward public works, may lie unable to push them on. If these deductions, drawn from the very slight clues before the public, are true, lie cannot in self-defence acknowledge them, nor, if untrue, contradict them, fly him as well as by ns the secret pulling of the strings may only bo very strongly surmised, for fho public may be well assured it will never be expressed. Hut whether correct a.s to the exact position of affairs or not, this is certain, that for some reason or other the public interest is played with as suits private profit and individual ambition, and that unless public opinion is brought strongly to bear upon these questions, the close of 1870 will see the railways yec to be begun.