Marlborough Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1881.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume III, Issue 299, 19 October 1881, Page 2

Marlborough Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1881.

Wk iiavi: always insisted that the “ shamLibcral " party of this district hid no des’n to see it prosper, but, on tin contrary, were rather anxious that it should remain at a .standstill, and the m inner in which til •>* view the extension of our local railway sustains ns in this opinion. 0 if impression ha: always bum that the furth-r our railway wu.s extended the batter it

would be for the district as a whole, and that its extension via the Awatere meant the ultimate connection of this line with the main trunk line through the Island ; but it has been reserved for the party we allude to to discover that a subtle and dark design is at the bottom of this work, as of all others in which the H ill Ministry is concerned, or with which our member, Mr Seymour, is connected. The active canvassers for Mr Dodson, and that gentleman himself, are, we are informed, broadly stating that the line is only being carried that way to suit the runholders, and that it will open up no agricultural land nor will it benefit the district. The position taken up by the party is a thoroughly absurd one, blit as some tew may possibly lie deluded by their representations are feel called upon to express our views upon the matter. We will readily grant that if we bad been so unfortunate as to have had Mr Dodson for our member the railway would not have been extended till doomsday, as, holding the view which lie now expresses, he would naturally have opposed its progress instead of using his best aborts, as Mr Seymour did, to haveitcarried on at the carliestopportunity. And now, toshow that the railway is not likely to be a special boon to the innholders at the expense ef the agriculturists, but is certain to promote the

true settlement of the country, we cannot ,lo better than quote the following from an American journal “ Railway extension hat worked wonders towards developing the resources of California. But for its railways this State would not have been in the ran of progress ; it would now lie a comparatively unknown region in the hamln tif sheep ami rattle men, contributing little to tiie world’s wealth beyond the produce of its mines. Railway construction, however, revolutionised all this. Agriculture soon became tlie leading industry in the State consequent on cheap and rapid transport ; and now that the Southern Pacific line has opened the vast territory known as Southern California to beneficial occupation the march of progress becomes proportionately rapid. Small farm settlement is superseding the large cattle and sheep runs in Los Angelos, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties, and with the change of system comes a wonderful change over the natural fsaturcs of the country. \V hat was once bare and sterile is now covered with verdure and the desert place blossoms like the rose. This is no fancy sketch, but a literal fact, which anyone may verify by paying a visit to the drought-stricken districts in the southern parts of the State. The man whose stock is dying from want of nourishment i» not the smill hndowncr, hut the man of ‘broad acres’ and territorial importance. Take Anaheim for example. In this young settlement there are probably •2!).I artesian wells flowing, which render their owners independent of the rainfall. Fruit, alfalfa, and grain flourish, and the neighborhood is fragrant with sweetseen ceil plants and flowers. A few years ago it was a bare sheep range, without anything to distinguish it from the equally bare and btrreu tracts to be found elsewhere in Los Angelos and neighboring counties. But the land was subdivided and went inti the possession of men who only own what they can tiil. This is the ' secret of successful settlement in this I State.” This extract should conclusively rehut the malevolent insinuations of the I partisans we have referred to, for the writer | speaks from the facts brought out by ox- ! perience, and it is distinctly proved that j the extension of the railway there has been the main agent in subdividing the land and enabling it to be worked by agriculturists. It is a well-known fact that before agricultural enterprise can succeed proper means must he provided for the conveyance of produce, and thus we find that in all cases where railways have not either preceded or accompanied agricultural settlement in New Zealand the experiment of locating people upon the land has been a pronounced failure. We therefore look upon the extension of our local railway as a matter of the greatest importance to this district, as a sure means of inducing further .settlement and otherwise increasing its prosperity, and wc heartily thank the Hall Ministry for dealing out justice to Marlborough in this matter. Mr Dodson will, of course, never succeed in getting into Parliament, and therefore it is of very little consequence what he and his following may do in the way of making deliberate mis-state-ments, but we cart duly object to such an absurd idea being put about by them. It is no novelty to fin 1 the sham Liberals trying to m ike political capitil out of wilfully false and misleading stitcmeuts, but wc arc quite willing to givu them credit for earnestness in this matter, and have no doubt they would gladly prevent the prosecution of the railway works if they could. Fortunately for the district they cannot, and the good work begun by the Hall Ministry will proceed in spite of their efforts.