THE WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2164, 1 February 1881, Page 3

THE WEST COAST RAILWAY.

In reply to an article recently in the Dunedin “Morning Herald,” Mr O. Hooa writes to that journal as follows:—There is no doubt that the advocates of the West Coast railway scheme are sincere, and that their sincerity is based on a more perfect knowledge and a higher principle than you impute, and so blandly endeavor to lead the public to believe. That the railway is practicable is without doubt. That the time has arrived, owing to the development of three coal mines at the Grey Gorge, without an adequate outlet for their output, which makes its constzuotion of urgent necessity, regardless of all selfish local interests which only recognise their immediate surroundings, and nothing else. The time has likewise arrived that New Zealand should assume a position as a whole, and that all provincial and local jealousies should be discarded and for ever buried. I am not ignorant that the Wallsend Coal Co.’s property, in full working order, opposite the Brunnerton coal mine, is entirely, or almost so, held by people in Dunedin, and that it must be to their interest, as well as their fellow-oitizens, yourself not excluded, to countenance, advocate, and aid their efforts for the general good. Whilst I have no objections to a West Coast railway, via Haast Pass, to join the Otago Central, I yet cannot shut my eyes to its remoteness of accomplishment. It is not, therefore, prudent that the Government should be induced to make concessions to a company who at once would create an outlet for home produce. This, if not of an apparent direct benefit to Otago, and ejpeoxally Dunedin, would yet indirectly cause a reduction in the price of ooals, from whatever part they hailed.