The Fielding Star. SATURDAY, APRIL 26,1884. The Central Line

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 49, 26 April 1884, Page 2

The Fielding Star. SATURDAY, APRIL 26,1884. The Central Line

Although there is very little probability of the Central line being taken by way of the Oroua Valley ronte, yet it is gratifying to learn that Mr Mitchelson, the Minister for Public Works, has declared he views Mr Rochfobt's survey very favorably and considers that the latter gentleman deserves great credit for laying it off, considering the country he had to go through. The grades are all easy, 1 in 80 being the steepest. As the party headed by the Minister had to observe the featnres of the country that lies along the route they were obliged to follow a somewhat zigzag route. The distance they travelled was about 600 miles. Mr Mitchelson considers it scarcely possible to obtain an easier line, and one which will only cost £ 5,000 per mile. The whole distance from Wellington to Auckland if this line is adopted would be 420 miles. Mr Mitchelson is now on his way to examine the Taranaki-Mokau route and he will no doubt give them the same careful examination he has given Bochfort's line. The amount of information gathered by Mr Mitchelson during his journeys will be considerable, and will prove deeply interesting to all who are desirous of knowing the capabilities of parts of the colony which have been in the past terra incognita. Unless to the biased and prejudiced minds of a few interested individuals, the statements of the Minister as to what he actually saw of the various sections of the new country he has visited, and its suitableness or otherwise for settlement, ought to bear great weight in the discussion which must inevitably take place on the merits of the rival routes. The great danger to be feared is that the question may be made a party one and the North Island have inflicted upon it one of those " political railways" which have done so much injury in the South Island. The central line, whether from Marton or Feilding, from a point starting at either township, would pay for the first 60 or 70 miles better than any other section of equal length in the colony, and of this we believe the M nisier has satisfied himself.