THE Mount Ida Chronicle. SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1877.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 426, 9 June 1877, Page 3

THE Mount Ida Chronicle. SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1877.

The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce is going to settle tho railway question. The Chamber is to meet. Tho time is come and the men are" ready. Such work is not to be left to bantlings, such as sit in the Taicri Council, with all their eyeteeth to cut. We congratulate the Interior. It was scarcely to be hoped that the Chamber would have time for such a small matter. There is so much now to bo put right that is altogether wrong that even we ourselves, sanguine of :;help coming from Dunedin, had almost despaired of it on this occasion. The great battle of the docks is not yet happily adjusted, and for our part we utterly scorn those uncultured minds who see no wise reasons for the creation of docks in Dunedin, even though when created it may be morally certain that there will be nothing to put in the ships so unfortunate to come" into.lthose docks except stone ballast from Logan's Point. The thrilling gravity of the dock question in all its ramifications,' as] expounded by Messrs. Eattray, Tcwsley, Bamsay, Mills, and others: whether there should bo one dock of ten acres or two of five ; whether the rocky walling should be of stone or mud ; whether the Chairman of the Harbor Board should doj! what the Board directs him, or, unfettered by such directions should play a lone hand in another place, usiug all his influence everywhere; whether the statu in ante quo helium should be attained or not. In the face of such questions, what right had anyone to expect the Chamber of Commerce would consider the Interior railway question.

The Taieri Council is in earnest, but it is merely walking blindfold to deception to believe that Dunedin is. We do not believe in Dunedin or its Chamber of Commerce. The amazing selfishness of the conduct of many Dunedin citizens during tho last few weeks must rob the Chamber of any little influence it might have been supposed by the uninitiated to have so long as it attempted to do nothing moro formidable than to bully " our ain Geordie " of bank parlor memory. It is true Dunedin has hitherto been the market for the Interior of Otago. It is not true that it is at all to the advantage of the Interior to bo dependent upon Dunedin only. The people that are in earnest beyond all others are the people of Oamaru. They vote their money ; they give their time. While others talk and clamour for pap from tho Government spcon, they act. Oamaru deserves to succeed. We should be glad to see a more hearty support given to Oamaru. Oamaru knows well that in opening the Pass it is letting Christchurch through, and that if Oamaru Port is not able to cope with the trade it will be diverted at the Waitaki bridge and sent to Akaroa or Lyttleton without coming near Oamaru at all. The trade will go North rather than South, because, the Northern hue being level, tho goods trains North run at an advantago over those going South over grades of ono in forty j which the shorter distance to Port* Chalmers will uot overbalance. The Dunedin merchants coolly propose to bring the produco of tho Interior right past Port Chalmers to Dunedin, where docks are to bo constructed at great expense in the mud-flat of the port of Dunedin. The port of Dunedin has to be made. The port of Oamaru is now made, and when largo steamers like the Easby can call in to order and load produce for Sydney there is not much more to bo desired. The reports and flying surveys to be at once obtained by the Counties and the Government Engineer (Mr. Blair) will, when published, dissipato many errors from the minds of those who are now influencing public opinion. It will be understood that all the projected lines must follow tho samo course so far as Maniototo is concerned, neither line curving less or more into the plain than tho others. As Eough Eidge must be rounded, and the centre of the agricultural land in the plain can only bo reached profitably by a short line, there will be no inducement to lengthen the main line by giving it a deep curve into the plain, which would have the effect of necessitating a branch on both sides. Tho shorter tho main lines can be mado the less will be the wear and tear of plant and the quicker tho despatch of goods. Tho best line for Naseby, St. Bathans, Blacks, Clyde, and Cromwell is the Oamaru lino. In all good faith we invite our Clydo contemporary to go in with us. Tho Manuherikia is the working garden of his district. Tho Teviofc line will never be made. In any case, the Oamaru and Outram lines will be made. One or other may be mado quicker if Vincent and Vincents Chairman join cordially with Maniototo, Waitaki, and Taieri for the gam of a common good. We hare no fear but that Dunedin, it left to herself, will regain that commercial balance of intellect which at present she seems to have lost, and that she will not lose her trade without an effort. Every mile of rails laid on the Oamaru line will stimulate the laying of two miles on the Outram line. Both lines can, we believe, be made; both lines are justified; and, what is better, both can be mado diroctly and indirectly to pay.