THE OAMARU-MOERAKI LINE.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1265, 8 April 1878, Page 3

THE OAMARU-MOERAKI LINE.

The “ North Otago Times ”of Tuesday has the following m reference to the delay in opening this line:—“Upon whomsoever the blame should properly fall there is room for complaint at the delay which has taken place as to the opening for traffic of an additional length of the Oamaru Moeraki line. Months ago Mr Blair promised that the line would be opened as far as Pukitaki—eight miles south of Moeruki Junction—on the Ist February, and on the 15th February last Mr Larnach (we were informed by telegram from Palmerston) arranged that the section we have referred to should be opened on the let March, and the line to Palmerston in six wei ks, for passenger traffic. But here we are at the 2nd of April and there is no sign as yet of the promised opening. From what we saw of the line when the circus was brought up last week, we should say that two or three days’ vigorous work at most would suffice to put everything in order for traffic as far as Pukitaki; and if anything like energy were displayed, a fortnight’s work should enable the line being opened right through to Palmerston. We mu-t expre-s our surprise that after the many promises which have been made so little push should be shown. We should be the last to advocate the running of trait s before the line is in proper order, but as the sooner the trains are running the sooner there will begin to be a return for the public expenditure, every effort should be put forth to make the railway available at the earliest possible moment. As we have already said, we think there is room for complaint on this score, and hope that pressure will be brought to bear upon the authorities with a view to inducing them, in the parlance of our American cousins, to ‘hurry up.’”