THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1908. STRATFORD – MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 101, 9 October 1908, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1908. STRATFORD - MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

; The announcement by the Government t that it has been decided to deviate the , Stratford - r Main Trunk Line to a r point on the main line some dis- " tance north of Ongarue is fraught with I the deepest interest to the whole disr trict. In the first place the bulk of the ! Ohura settlers are very gravely affected . by the alteration, and are to be sympathised with, from the fact that any . line save one starting from Ongarue must take considerably longer to reach [ their district than the original Ongarue r line would have done. Furthermore, I the fact that a line authorised by a k previous Government has been devi- ; ated, naturally upsets the arrangements r entered into by settlers.in the full pectation of the line being- carried j in its entirety. of the deviation may not see any sufficiently strong reason for adhering to the old route, but when it is considered that the only hope of the Ohura people getting their district roaded lies in the completion of the railway, in order to have metal brought into the district, it is readily understood how seriously the Ohura settlers regard the situation. From the settlers' l standpoint they are losing something , which they had every reason to expect . and under the most favourable condi- ■ tions the district is. being held back for . some .years longer than would have been the case had he original route been adhered to. The case for the deviation | need not be stated. However strong it may be, it cannot alleviate the posi- ; tion of the Ohura people. Moreover, - the Government, after hearing the arguments on both sides, and -obtaining, the reports of its owh engineers, has decided for the deviation, and has provided for an early start at the Northern' end. After making such decision, with a-full knowledge of the whole circumstances, the authorities will certainly not again consider -the question cf

rOngarue as the starting point. It is : devoutly to be hoped in the interests of the whole district that the settlers will co-operate strongly to- urge the earlygstart of the work. As the initial step towards that desirable end the first duty of the settlers is to agree upon a starting point, and advocate it with all the force which can be brought to bear on the subject. The Government is proverbially slow to friove, but the knowledge that it can be quickened by concerted agitation On our part should stir the settlers to immediate action. Without a doubt the point of connection which would serve the population best- is the natural commercial centre of the district. That centre is Te Kuiti, and no effort should be spared to establish the junction at that township. With the line starting from Te Kuiti every mile of it that was constructed could be used by the settlers to advantage, as Te Kuiti, by virtue of its position, and natural advantages must remian the commercial centre as at present, and be largely used by settlers throughout the district. At a reasonable computation it will take from eight to ten years for the line to advance sufficiently to serve t the population having already established commercial relations with the" town, and in tlje meantime those relations must of necessity become greater. It is obvious therefore that in order to derive the full benefits from the railway, direct communication be established withthe chief centre of the district. Too much stress cannot be laid upon this important feature, and the settlers, in their own interests, should lose no opportunity of advocating both the junction at Te Kuiti and the early start of the work. The Oluira people are to be sympathised with in every respect. Considering the length of time the line has been jmthorised. trains should have been running to the Oluira now, and the fact that such a longprojected work has been altered only serves to emphasise the absolute n.vessity of constant, and stivouows aj;ii;»- r | tion in having our public roe,i;h\ ntoip.s undertaken without Uk* B»li»rhiesl delay. The next best thing to a ivilway is a good metalled road, and ;l is the bounden duty of .-vttiers. \vi;.> will lv affected l.y the railway ih viruon, io unite with the Ohura people in urgsn.c the Government to provide i-'ueh a road from Ongarne without delay. iUoiv- • over, our disl.'iei is in a highly imp"''tant stage of development, and m.P by the hearty <'o- oprrai son oi ail van we hope b> t'uri her hs b-st in;. ;a sis. No stronger p!e:i eoul.l bo n:;u!e i\»;* union than «u common inii-n'si.:, both public and: private. and where a difference exists the question of public j good must always prevail.