WELLINGTON AND HAWKE'S BAY RAILWAYS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1293, 9 April 1872, Page 2

WELLINGTON AND HAWKE'S BAY RAILWAYS.

The New Zealand Herald, referring to the Government scheme of Colonisation, says it is clear " that the Government are losing sight of colonial interest*. They are endeavoring to commit the Colony to an estimated expenditure, including the Napier and Ruataniwha line, of £521,000, bui which, in reality would be double the amount. To do what ? To bring the traffic of wellsettled districts into a ready market, and secure a fair return for the expenditure ? By no means. Mr Reynolds stated that the traffic returns on the Wellington and Master ton line would not buy grease for the wheels of the rolling stock; and everyone who knows the country must feel that he spoke the truth. Even the Wellington newspapers admit that he was correct, but. they say that this line is needed as the great central artery of communication between the North and Middle Hand, which, with the aid of ferryboats across Cook's Straits will ultimately connect Auckland with Otago, We assure our readers that we do not exaggerate. We reproduce the argument as we find it ; and it is for the sake of settling the Manawatn district and the Seventy Mile Hush—of which a great deal might be written —that Ministers appear so anxious to involve the country in a profitless expenditure. The Wellington and Masterton Huecannot possibly pay working expenses £

the Napier and Ruafcaniwha line shows a probable loss of £9OOO per annum. It rests with the local Press, and indeed the Press all over the Colony, to take this matter up, and endeavor to put the break on the wheel in time. J?or our own par*, we protest against committing the Colony to the Wellington and Masterton line, or any section of it. It would be ruinous in a financial point of view ; and would certainly deal the death-blow to the whole railway policy. Up to the present time, as little work has been done by the Government, the loss is not irremediable, if the latest and pet project of Ministers be contracted for, as .the Executive propose, the consequence must be disastrous to New Zealand."