The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la Verite. WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 1883. THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 4, 30 May 1883, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la Verite. WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 1883. THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

We give special prominence, by insertion m our leading columns, to the foJl lowing logical and practical letter on this important question, which appeared m last, night's Wanganui Herald :-r- --'• The question of the best route for tbe North Island Trunk Railway is one of such paramount importance to the colony, that it surprises me to see it argued upon such narrow grounds as the local interests of this or that section of the community, or the advantages to one district or. another, that might be expected to follow if. the line were to be conducted here or there, as the case may be. Regarded from a Colonial point of I view, local interests mast be set aside, it the question is to be decided upon its merits ; otherwise it becomes merely an affair of log-rolling, and tbe best interests of the country; must suffer. Two routes are advocated, the Mokau and the Central; Not very much is known of either. Looking at the map it may be seen that the length of line necessary to connect the Northern system of railway with the Southern, is shorter by one half if taken by the Mokau than by the Central route, and it has been asserted that the engineering difficulties m the former case would not be excessive. I am prepared to admit that a careful survey may prove the truth of this assertion, and I will even go further and admit that the Natires may be brought to codsent to the line being run through their country. But these admissions, considerable aa they . may \ appear v^o many, do not m my opinion affect to any appreciable extent the main issues involved. The central districts of this Island must, af. some future time, be .opened for settlement] and this can best be done by a line of railway. No one can doubb that even if the Mokau line were complete and m working order today, there would still be the necessity for undertaking the Central line, before the interior of the country could be profitably settled. I fully believe that at some not distant time the Coast line will be continued beyond Waitara ; but -with plenty of coasting steamers, there is not the same necessity for a line of rail to open up the country along the Coast. "I will venture to say, however, that when such a line comes to be made, it will probably be found convenient to carry it as a Coast line as far as Kawhia Harbor, and this again may be connected with the Central Line, via Alexandra, when the times are ripe for it. Meantime, m the interests of the colony as a whole, . and particularly of the North Island, the country lying west of Rnapehu and Tongarit o should be surveyed, and that route, and that alone, should be selected, which, while opening up the best line for settlement, shall present the fewest engineering difficulties. The Government has ilrearty acquired blocks* of land m the interior, whicb, upon completion of a railway, would be available for settlement. There is reason to believe that further lands could be purchased from the Natives, who appear not unwilling to allow the line to be made m this direction. The Central Line .would be the shortest between Auckland and Wellington. Tbese and such are thejse are colonial reasons for adopting the Central route, 'and 1 there are absolutely none that can be urged; of equal strength, m favor of the other, unless it be that practical advantages would

arise from forcing the line through th c heart of the Kins; Country ; but for purposes of settlement, such a line might, for years to come, ba of little use."