The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1883. The Inland Railway.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 105, 17 May 1883, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1883. The Inland Railway.

*. Ix our last issue we pointed out some of the advantages offered by Bar ton's line, as a section of the route to connect the Central Railway at Te Awamutu, a.-id as the subject is one of great importance to Feilding and the districts immediately surrounding it, no apology is necessary for us continuing; the subject. Our principal reason for so doing is that Mr Jonrc Stevens, M.H.R., will address the electors at Kiwitea on Tuesday, the 09th instant, and he will very probably give his opinions on this fubject on the occasion. We believe that liis views are against the Mokau or Beach line, not only from this route beinj" much longer, but that it will practically open up no new or valuable country, while the other two routes both offer splendid advantages. We are not aware that Mr Stevens has decided as to which of the inland routes be deems to be the best, and which would tuin out to be the most profitable to the Colony, by encouraging settlers to cune on to the new country to be opened up. It is more than probable that he may have a slight bias in favor of a line that would come out at Marton. more front sentimental than practical reasoDS. We therefore think that if the K>wi tea fo'k take advantage of the oppor tunity offered, and impress on Mr Stevens the manifold advantages offered by the country from the Kiwitea to Murimotu as being puitr °<qual, if not. superior, to any line down the north bank ot the Rangitikei. Althou h the general characteristics of the forest and open land may be much the same, y^t the cheapness of the route from the easy nature of the gradients, and the absence of nny larg j or rapid streams to bridge for the whole sixty-five miles, makes Barton's line the best. 'I here can only be one opinion as to the direction the Central Line will run from Te Awamutu — that traversing- the Waipa Valleys, passing west of Lake Taupo to the Murimotu Plains. The point of exit on the Manawatu-Patea line will be the great question to be decided, and we certainly would advise our Kiwitea friends to be on the alert, to show and prove that the junction should bo at Fending. It must be remembered that the opinion of Mr Stevens will '■aye great weight in the House, for not only was he the only member who spoke intelligently and without prejudice on the subject of the Central Line, when the subject was debated in Parliament, but his great and admitted knowledge of the topographical formation of the interior of the North Island, will, in the future debates that must take place, give his utterance a preponderance that will add tremendous weight to the side he supports. Whichever route secures his support has secured half the victory. It is worthy of note ihat the sub-committee of the Welling Chamber of Commerce met on Tuesday last in connection with a private inquiry and survey of a middle route of the proposed line to connect j Wellington and Auckland. Sir Wm Fox attended by request, and gavtvaluable information as to the character of the country lying- between Mar ton and Je Awamutu. A. report was also received of surveyors as tithe mute rr-ferred to. As the subcommittee have decided to obtain further specific information before sending in their detailed report to the Chamber <«f Commerce, probably what we have written on the subj -ct will | direct their attention to the line w<support, and consequently cause B.\u ton's line to be. f»nly (joneiriered, and sip*. roved or nj'Cted entirely on its merits.