The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. MONDAY MAT 17, 1886. THE GORGE RAILWAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1710, 17 May 1886, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. MONDAY MAT 17, 1886. THE GORGE RAILWAY.

We are glad to notice that an agitation is afloat m Woodvill^" 1 to get up a demonstration on that side of the Tararua Range, with a yieV to having the Gorge Line proceeded with as soon as possible. The Ex. aminer, m referring to the question, asserts that there can be no doubt that Wellington will be^ the distributing centre of New Zealand, and the sooner railway communication is established with Wellington, '" the better will it be for the settlers, m these districts. It will enable them to obtain the necessaries of life at, a. much cheaper rate, and a ready | market with a cheap means of carriage will be open either for .consumption or export: ~ Our contemporary further affirms, as one of the; main reasons why it wishes to see the Gorge Jine carried on, because of the benefit it will be to the timber industry. It thus explains the position : — " The forests on the West Coast, especially the totara forests* are well-nigh exhausted. On this side (the Woodville side) there is enough and to spare for years to come. As has already been shown by the returns of the Napier line, no industry pays the railway better than the timber business. The traffic over the Gorge/line m this respect would be immense, and taking intp, consideration that the Gorge line will really ( be a junction.between the. two main lines of railway, it could not fail to pay, notwithstanding its. enormous cost. As a matter of fact totara timber is already being „■? sent from Tahoraite to 'Wellington,'; i by way of Napier. In the face of j this how much easier wou^d it be to send it to Wellington by the '<jrorge % line of railway ? . This alone points to the enormous timber trade that is capable of being developed with this district on the completion of the Gorge line." We do not think the cost will be so " enormous" as the Examiner seems to anticipate. We have all along upheld' that the Gorge line is the most important unfinished link m all the colony. We say that no other section has such undoubted preferential claims, btill more is its importance — nay, its absolute and imperative necessity enhanced by the fact that the the Wellington-Manawatu line is

We trusf that m this agitation the residents of both sides of the Tararua Range will work together for the interest of all. There need be no paltry jealousies, or personal differences^ opinion m the matter. We are not jUst m the same position as Mr Ma.ts6n said Canterbury would be if it did not get the East and West Coast Railway. It jf is not at all to be apprehended thai we will " bust" if we d6n't gef Jhe : Gorge Line. But it will make! p. wonderful difference to. the- present circumstances and future prospects of all this district, and of Hawked Bay also, if that most essential work is put m hand at an early date. Therefore we say, let us unite with Woodville m this agitation. Nor it does not matter which takes the lead. It is not a question ofy precedence. The main issue is: Let us strengthen the hands of Messrs Macarthur and Smith, Ms.H.FL with a view to get the railway put m hand. Let us show determination, unanimity and energy, and the desired object will be attained. If Parliament is made to recognise the imperative nature of the demand, acquiescence will not be withheld. Manawatu.,sthQuld forthwith organize a dtmohsfoation. on ; a substantial scale, and bring pressure to bear, and success will^ttend our efforts, We trust a movement will be made m the direction indicated without loss of time. ''

We have received the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Circular for March, which remarks on the wool market as follows :— " The continued lack of confidence on the part of buyers is no doubt m a measure engendered by the uncertain political situation,, and, as pointed oiiiin our last issue, the winterly weather experienced until within the past few days has adversely affected business m the manufacturing districts. A tavoxable change m thd latter respect has at last taken place, but so recently that its effects m stimulating trade are not yet manifested." For tallow the circular reports^a decline of 3d to 6d per cwt. The frozen meat market was fairly steady, but not active. New Zealand Hemp from £19- 10s to £25 per ton, 4 — '—** Concluding an article dealing with the. statement conveyed by cable that the lipndon jSt#ndar& had adversely eriticfsetf Mie policy 'qf^ir Julius Voeol, the Melbourne 4r^ws;after termihg'Sir Julius, the Harqun-Al Easch-id of N,ew Zealand : finance, says :^- v There is "efadeTice that the spell of hard times, m Now Zealand haa really been a blessing m disguise ; the self-help and self reliance, of the .people have 'been called out. m many ways, and business shows signs of settling down on a sounder if on a diminished scale. Perhaps these cheerj ing facts nlay be worth the consideration of our London contemporary after.it has exposed Sir Julius Vogel's Arabian Nights system of nuance to its own sat isfaction."

At a recent meeting at Palriatua Mr Davie spoke of the desirability of road communication with. Palmereton, and of the steps so far taken m the matter. Last session the Government had promised Mr Beetham to have the line surveyed, but since then nothing had been heard about it, Mr Beethain said, he would do Ins best m the Matter. The Government had promised to make a survey both for road and railway. The survey staff had been so busy that it had not been cawied out. He would repeat the question next week. " We are sorry to hear that the approaches to the Awahuri Bridge are seriously damaged, so much so that air road communication has been suspended until repairs have been effected. Verily this bridge has been a unfortunate and costly undertaking. The ferry wire at I the Liwer Gorge beinec carried away, communication with Wood vilie is also at a I standstill, as not even boats can cross till the river goes down. The rainfall has been quite exceptional during the last 48 hourts: Round about Oroua Bridge the . low-fy ing country is all under water, and between there and Awapuni large acres are submerged. It is to be hoped the weather will take up before more serious damage is caused.

, A correspondent of the Hawera Star, 'r> f erring to the proposal to construct railways by syndicates, writes as follows: — v In one humble old stager's opinion the mcc ''powerful syndicates" we can find willing and able to run railway •lihtes all through this colony the better. If they are satisfied to, be paid m land, why, for mercy's. sake. let' them havo the land- all along the lines .to do what, they please with. They can't do a more abominable action than our precious ■.■Government has been -guilty of m selling bush lands with a promise that roads will be formed to them, a promise never wholly, and rarely even partially fulfilled. Th<> advertisements |: from time to time of forfeited deferred payment sections to be resold must have a significance apart from their mere business import. They mean heart-burnings, mental distress, and poverty, which no gbod Government should be the means of bringing upon its people, by first inducing them by false promises to venture beyond .their depth, and then at the first opportunity heartlessly abandon them." There is a great deal of truth m the above, and much that is applicable to these districts.