OUR WELLINGTON LETTER

Manawatu Herald, 24 September 1878, Page 2

OUR WELLINGTON LETTER

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. WELLIXGTON-I'OX.TON lUILWAY. Doubtless the welcome announcement by the Native Minister at the Miiyoral banquet oil Saturday last, that he has already taken steps to have the Native Land on this line surveyed and purchased, finishing up with the significant words, " we mean business," has reached you ere this, and spread through the District like wild-fire. Truly this is business, and if the Government only carry on their work with the energy with which they have commenced it, Manawatu will not bo long without direct rail way con: nunicatiou with Wellington. HAXQUET SPEECHES. By the way the above strkiugly reminds me of the opinion one of our City news- ! papers expressed on the various banquet oratioLS of Ministers. Sir George was described as capable of making splendid speeches, without disclosing a shred of the real policy of the Government ; while Mr Macaudrew, although admitted to be a good speaker, wus not credited with this accomplishment, at any rate not after dinner. Surely this latter paragraph must refer to another member of the Cabinet as well. WAIKAKAI'A 11AILWAT. The opening to Featherstou has been ; postponed to October 12, au-1 .people are beguiing to speuk in a disappointed strain with regard to the line. It is rumored that there U not nearly sufficient rolling stock — either engines, carriages, or waggons, and that the Wairarapa traffic will consequently have to be limited to two trains per diem. Our Welliugton butchers were contemplating bringing their sheep dowu alive, bat owing to the insufficient supply of sheep trucks, •they uow find they must either kill them before sending, or drive them as at present. This is not encouraging the traffic. rUBLIC WOItKP ESTIMATES. The Public Works Estimates have just been brought down. They disclose the fact that owing to the tightness of mouey only about one-half oi last year's votes were expended. This year amongst other amounts, it is proposed to expend £0,000 on surveys of .new lines of railway, North Island, and £13,500 on roads to open up lands before sale in Wellington district, of which about ono-ha'f falls to Manawatu. [Our correspondent also gives other figures, but we published them fully in a previous issue.] _