The Evening Star. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER, 12 1874

Evening Star, Issue 3606, 12 September 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER , 12 1874

Every day’s experience teaches the benefits that almost necessarily result from the development pf the railway system- Property that, without cheap and ready access to it, was of small worth, at once acquires value when means of communication are opened up ; mines and quarries that could not hare been worked profitably become as valuable as goldfields; and districts previously only available for residence of those who can afford the luxury of a carriage, and to whom time is of no moment, become transformed into sites fitted for villa residences of busy tradesmen, to whom time is as precious as gold. These transformations are taking place under our eyes. Only a few mouths back the Green Island coalpits had to compete with sea-borne coal, and it cost very nearly as mucfi to bring a ton of coals from Green Island to Dunedin as from Newcastle to Port Chalmers. The small portion of the Clutha line opened for traffic has already rectified this to a large extent • and will atiord further facilities wlieu the branch line is completed. At Green Island there was a bed of very fine building sand, mixed with excellent gravel, that would have Jain unused, and perhaps unknown, te this day, had it not been for the railway. The formation of the tunnel and the cutting made us acquainted with its value; aud now so great is the demand for it in Guuedin and suburbs, that the supply of trucksis hardly equal to therequirements. Near tho Port Cnalmers line are many pretty nooks where neat retired resiJeuces, with ample ground attached, might be built, A few years ago they were not valued highly, and many of the owners of the land would have parted with them for a very moderate price. But now that they are brought within twenty of five-and-twenty minutes’ reach of the Dunedin Post office, afl little more than the cost of tfab fate to the Water of JUith, the

fortunate possessors are beginning to appreciate the value of railway communication. Many of them opposed the promoters, and did their best to sponge them ; but having experienced the advantage of a mode of transit they once so much decried, they would be very loth to go back to the days of bullock drays and horse teams on bad gradients and dangerously constructed roads. Yesterday a meeting was held to initiate steps for giving like facilities to the Peninsula, the Ocean Beach, and the Forbury. It was impossible that so beautiful a distinct as this should be left without improved communication. For years Dunedin has looked to the Peninsula for a large portion of its supplies of vegetables; and since the Corporation have decreed that the Chinese garden in King street shall be doomed to unproductiveness, although this formed but a small area compared with what is necessary, the withdrawal of its supplies tended to enhance the price of vegetables, and to direct attention to bringing grazing and horticultural districts into immediate and cheap communication with the rapidly-iucreasing population of the City. There is now a good market for dairy and market garden produce, hut we venture to affirm there is not a town in the world situated as Dunedin is, in the centre of a most fertile district, that is worse supplied with really good milk, butter, fruit, and vegetables. We have heard much lately of laying out thousands in beautifying the Town Belt. It is to bo a temptation to pleasure-seekers who are supposed to be always fond of rural walks, which are thus to be placed within the reach of all who live within the fence. There is enormous sentimentality in all this, which reminds one of Stepne’s reflections in a country churchyard, in which food for meditation is given ready - made for every one who loves solitude and musing. But people generally like to make acquaintance with nature after their own fashion. They commonly prefer it in large companies; and thousands delight in the health-breathing breezes of the Ocean Beach or the Forbury, to ten who would find pleasure in fern pick iug on the Belt. Besides, ferns and mosses and insects can be sought for, or rural picnics enjoyed elsewhere: in M‘Gla.shan’s Valley or a hundred romantic spots, while there is but one Ocean Beach. The drawback to its full enjoyment is the expense of taking a large family or party there. This it is proposed to obviate by constructing a railway : and were this done, Dunedin would have all the advantages of a watering-place, combined with the wealth and growing prosperity of an emporium of trade. There can be no doubt of the reciprocal advantages that would accrue to the owners of property in the districts that would be opened up, and to the inhabitants of Duu*4in. Hundreds of beautiful building sites with the most pleasant aspects would become available that are now practically out of distance; the attractiveness of the chief resorts of pleasure would be increased through being accessible without fatigue ; and a large sr ( ea for supplying the requirements of a rapidly increasing market would be opened up. The cost at which these advantages can be secured is a bagatelle compared with the increased value of the land, and we have no doubt will be cheerfully undertaken by those immediately interested • although, as we have shown, everyone in the Gity, will, in a greater or less degree, participate in the benefit.