The Fielding Star. THURSDAY, MAYS, 1883. The Foxton-Tavanaki Railway.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 99, 3 May 1883, Page 2

The Fielding Star. THURSDAY, MAYS, 1883. The Foxton-Tavanaki Railway.

Wk learn from the Wellington Post that (he qustion of completing the gap in the railway line from Foxtoo to New Plymouth which now exists between Manutabi and IJj«.we>a is not to be permitted to rest at the discretion of the Government. The Wellington Chamber of Commerce recently sent a deputation of its members to wait on the Minister of Pu'lic Works, the Hon. Walter Johnston, who is (by the way) member for the Mauawntu. Ihe deputation urged with much force o.nd reasonableness the importance <if all possible de°patch being u>ed iv constructing the lii'k that is required to cotnp'tte railway communication between Foxton and New Plymouth. The Mioisfe. 1 for Pub''c Works proved binoself equa! to the occasion, aod with wonderful dexterity managed to shift his ground, and by so doing to momentarily embarrass the leaders of the deputation. " Mr Walter Johnston was much surprised and deeply hurt 'Jiat the people of Wellington should d*em the Government uegligeni of their interests. He was amazed at such injustice. Here, he said, was a length of 109 miles which had oj'ly been in progress since 1871 — a trifle of 12 years or so, ami ouly a pain*} 1 28 miles yet remained t.o be done, and yet the unreasonable, ungrateful people grumbled. \\ ay, what in the name of goodness would they hnve, or could they expect more ? The deputatioa were almost staggere.l for a moment at this home thru*', bi<t soon recovered themselves ami hit smartly back — " What do we want 1 We want that gap filled up." "Just so," remarked the ever-polite Minister. " And I am so pleased to be able to assure you that the line will be open to Maoutahi next month ; now will not that be de'ighrlul ?" The deputation pondered. " But that siiil leaves a gap of about 10 miles." " True," said Mr JoH.vsrow, " but we are going to ask for a vote for that in the coming* session, and then ilu; whole line wiil be flushed, and not at all bad work either for the tine." At this stage the deputation appear to have reared quite satisfied on cue po ; nt — that there wa3 not much move to be £01 out of Mr Wa*/t.j-:k Johxs/roN." Tbis was very .clever of Mr Wa'.Ti.b Johnston, ns he thereby mroed the tables on the depi". lion, who were impliedly charging the Government with neglect in • ijis ma.ier. We do not thiok that .here is any implicaiion in the matter at all. li is in our minds a direct accusacio/i against the Government of bavin;; ne2)eeted the best interests of the settlers on this line in particular, and ibe Colony in general, by not finishing the tine. At the same time we ftfjroe with Mr Waj.ter John&ton when he exclaims against the people of Wellington for their not having c'autoured for the work to be done. They are far more to blame than the Government who are compelled from the nature of things to give ear to (he most importunate. It is only recently vhop the merchants who compose ihe Wel'mgtou Chamber of Commerce discovered that the Auckh'od merchants were forcing" the trade on this West Coast, tbnt any desire has been sbowu to beoefit in any way settlements which ihey bave at last learned mijiht. be made factors in promoting i he advancement of Wellington interests. At present we have nothing o be g^atful for. It, however, the efforts of vhe Wellington Chamber of Conc-roerce, backed by the suppori of •be people, compel the Government to c«>mpleie our line of railway and so open up communication with a large extent of country Vi&t is now languishing for an outlet for its procuce, the feeling will cha^e. The promise of ihe Oovernroent to devote the necessary funds for tbis purpose next session sounds very we'l, but it will be the duty of hon. members who represent districts through which the line passes, assisted by the Welling- ' ton tnemlurs, to force a in filnvmt of

thf imhli'M jii'.'.'.ijiX I—:is1 — :is a.'.iji ;> : . .1 .<■ i> afier alt, <>>iiy wrirt.-u in susni. We havft doubts flio'itr'i ; \vf> ii'o.l it v>'ili !."> v.'.i Miiilo •*-:!)!»; t.iii. '•'.{■ :<t- <"-f i ''*<• *j"<mi- ■. : eii>'ii roiorroil to ti> fi'^ot their ; i-niiit'onal ha!>i': : ol vo;i':o- on oiij)o-i;»> sicies of rlif lio :i se, and act tOif.-rho 1 as a whole fur t!i< j benefit of tlie comii'unity »it large, sinking all iniv.ve ?ee'int>-s and interests in order ihut s» u-ef'nl conriion object may be obrn'jied.