The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1907. ANOTHER MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2136, 19 July 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1907 . ANOTHER MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

The approaching completion of the lino that is to connect Auckland and Wellington by rail lias directed spe cial attention to that undertaking, and the hulk of the people of New Zealand overlooked the now histone Midland Railway, the wlute olepliant” of the South Island. Not so however, commercial men of Cln unchurch, for they have agitated most persistently during the histfouroi-hvo years for -tlio completion of that huge undertaking. Many of them admit franklv that the line is not likely to pav expenses for some considerable time after its completion, but they argue that as the taxpayers have already sunk some millions of money on Sir Julius Vogel’s ill-fated scheme there is no option but to carry it to a point where it can play ail impoitunt part in the development of tho covntrv. This aspect of the question lias evidently appealed to the Government as it undoubtedly will to most people, and the annoiuicepient made bv Sir Joseph Ward in the Financial Statement that a tender lias been let tor the construction of the Arthur s Pass tunnel shows that tho Cabinet is in earnest in its endeavors to have Hu work completed. The completion of this immense work, the cost or which is about £600,000, will leave comparatively little to be done. At its termination there will be practicallv no bar to the bond of matrimony between two wealthy, beautiful and' powerful provinces, to use Sir George Grey’s poetical phrase; and it may he presumed that, soon artel the tunnel is opened, a great line of railway, which was included in Sir Julius'Vogel’s famous public works policy of 1870, and which has been the subject of infinite vexatious agitation and discussion ever since, will be whirling tourists to the U est Coast, and thundering coal, timber, and other produce into Christchurch.

THE “ALL BLACKS.” Young New Zealand received a rude shock yesterday morning when the news appeared notifying the defeat of our representative football team in Sydney, by the substantial score of H 4 points to nil. For a parallel to this disaster sports enthusiasts have to go back to the memorable occasion when the Welshmen interrupted the most remarkable record of victories chronicled in the b'story of Rugby, by defeating the All Blacks at Cardiff. On that occasion, however, the margin of defeat, 3 points to nil, was so small that New Zealand supporters had no difficulty in blaming the referee for tho result, but in the present instance no • such refuge is available. The Sydney cablegraphist bluntly sums up the matter thus: —“In the second spell New South Wales territory was virtually a desort, and tlio number of times the New Zealanders could be seen there could be counted on the fingers of one hand.” Possibly this reverse may after all have a chastening influence upon .our footballers. " Too much success is apt to bo demoralising, and we had arrived at the conclusion that whilst the Cornstalks were admittedly great cricketers they could not play football. Now we know better. Australian Rugby lias been steadily improving during the past four or five years, and Wednesday’s match provided ample proof that it lias now reached a high standard. In the meantime patriotic considerations induce the hope that before the tour is over the defeat under review may be amply avenged.

PICTORIAL BLUE BOOKS. Tho modern craze for pictures lias evidently been noted by tlie Government'. which attempts to liven up the deadly dullness of its blue boohs by copious illustrations. The report on scenerv preservation, just to hand, contains, besides maps of New Zealand with red circles denoting the localities of the various tourist resorts, dozens of illustrations of the “beautv spots” of our Dominion. The report upon the Public School Cadets comprises 7 pages of reading matter and 12 of pictures. These latter sljow the young New Zealander collectively and individually with his dummy gun in various defensive and offensive attitudes, and if the idea is to stir up enthusiasm and patriotism amongst a set of apathetic M.H.R.s, the desired result may bo achieved. It is difficult to .imagine any other motive, for few persons beside the Parliamentary members seetjtjiese papers, and the heavy expenditure involved is a sheer waste of public money.