THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1907. AUCKLAND – STRATFORD RAILWAY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 40, 26 July 1907, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1907. AUCKLAND - STRATFORD RAILWAY.

In another column is published a letter from Kaeaea, advocating the deviation of the Stratford-Auckland railway in order to bring the line through the Waitewhenua valley and

on to connect with the Main Trunk

railway at Te Kuiti or Hangatiki. It is a matter to be very greatly deplored that there should be any obstacle placed in the way of the early construction of the Ohura railwajl- - Ongarue, and we feel assured that with a strong united effort in one direction, the line would be started in a very short time. The subject was very freely discussed at the banquet to the Members of Parliament at Taumarunui on Saturday last, and as a result of representations then made, there is no doubt that a grant for the work will be made this session. In dealing with the question of route, it must be borne in mind that whatever may be the arguments in favour of a deviation, there are quite sufficiently strong arguments to warrant the line proceeding to Ongarue. In addition, the fact that the Ongarue route has already been authorised, lends greater weight to anything that can be urged in support of that scheme. Without going deeply into details it is important to remember that the line from Ongarue to Mangaroa could be put through in a much shorter time, at a great deal less cost, than could the proposed deviation. Whatever can be said in favour of the new proposal in no way diminishes the importance of the work already authorised, and the very fact of it being the easiest and quickest method of giving access to a great tract of fertile country, not only on the north side of the Ohura valley, but right away to the Wanganui river on the south side, is a full and sufficient reason. There are many other things to be said in favour of the work being pushed ahead which need not be here mentioned. At the same time it must not be forgotten that these in no way detract from the arguments in favour of a line between Mangaroa and Te Kuiti or Hangatiki. Still it would be deplorable to the last degree if such a work could only be accomplished at the sacrifice of the present authorised undertaking. Ever since the starting of this "paper we have persistently urged the settlers of this district to co-operate in the common interests, and the present is an admirable opportunity of demonstrating the value of strong and sympathetic co-opera-tion for the benefit of the whole. The Ohura settlers are strongly united in the effort to have the Ongarue line started immediately, and the goal, so long and arduously striven for, is almost in sight. They will naturally oppose, to the last, an.}'- effort to nullify their strenuous labours, especially as, notwithstanding anything that can

be urged in support of the deviation the Ongarue line is a thoroughly dc sirable work in itself. The best course to adopt and the one we would earnestly advocate is that, instead of petitioning for a deviation, those settler; interested should cordially unite anc strenghten the appeals of the Ohun people for the Ongarue line. Thcj would thus earn the gratitude anc sympathy of their neighbours to the full, and in their own efforts to obtair railway communication betweer Mangaroa and Tc Kuiti or Hangatik would be mightily strengthened anc supported in that direction by the Ohura people. If the other course i; pursued, and the petition for the deviation gone on with, there is no tell ins: when cither of the lines will be started The inevitable consequence wili be that the whole question of railway construction in the district will be hung up for years. There is no neec for a dog in the manger policy. Eacl line is sufficiently important to stanc on its own merits. There remain; only the matter of a common-sense course in order to accomplish the greatest good for the greatest number in the shortest possible time. Rcasor and precedent dictate that only by the whole of the districts uniting anc working together, can anything be accomplished. Let discord be introduced, and all efforts at progress wil be nullified. Both parties will be the losers, and those who caused the breach will receive in return nothing but widespread condemnation, addec to which will be the galling knowledge that they have retarded the progress of several districts (including their own) for an indefinite period Strong appeals in favour of co-opera-tion among settlers were made by botl Mr Jennings and Mr Grcenshde ai Taumarunui on Saturday last. The member for Waikato, in referring tc the fact that Southern members usually got what they asked for from, the Government, attributed the result tc the fact that they were supported ii: their demands, not only by their constituents, but by their neighbours In many cases individual interest; were sunk, and the whole body unitcc in a common effort. The result was never in doubt, and in cases much less deserving than either the Ongarue railway or the Mangaroa-Tc Kuiti line, they were invariably successful. It is to be devcutccliy hoped the proposals in favour of the new line will be more fully considered and instead of advocating a deviation, the early construction of the line from Ongarue will be strongly supported. Such a course would in no way jeopardise the proposed line through the Waitewhenua ; instead it would have the effect of winning hundreds of new supporters, and would practically assure the commencement of a branch line in a much shorter time than the deviation scheme with its remote chance of success, would take to be organised- and considered by the Government. - AN EDUCATIONAL TOUR. The dominant note, sounded by the members of the Parliamentary party at Taumarunui, on Saturday night, was one of surprise at the vastness of the resource of the district, and the backward state of the locality in the matter of ordinary development. There is no doubt the tour, if productive of small material results at present, will be of great ultimate benefit to the backblocks in general. We have always contended that the indifference and (when anything was attempted) mismanagement, displayed with regard to the King Country, was clue mainly to the utter ignorance of our Parliamentarians as to its resources and requirements. It is something to know that in future the plea of ignorance cannot be made by the majority of our legislators, and we have the assurance of many that a policy of progress will be widely and heartily supported. Mention was made at the banquet of the indifference displayed by Aucklanders in connection with the King Country, and it is difficult to understand the attitude of the citizens and business men of the metropolis. However, a yearning for education, with regard to the backblocks, seems to be in the air, and it is to be hoped the persons chiefly interested will be affected thereby. The Taumarunui residents are to be complimented upon the manner in which the reception of the party was conducted, and to the efforts of the committee is due the opportunity of placing before the visitors the most important and urgent requirements of the district. We trust this visit is merely the forerunner of many similar expeditions in search of education, and if a tour could be arranged for the Auckland members and business men, throughout the real backbloek districts, away from the railway, it would be of even greater value than the one just concluded.