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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4980, 9 March 1877, Page 4

A further section of the railway, which is ultimately to connect the port of Napier with that, of Wellington, and to forrix a junction near Woodville with the main trunk line of the North Island, is now completed. The section we refer to is that between Waipukurau and Takapu, which latter place, as many of our readers are doubtless aware, is situated at the entrance of the Seventy-Mile Bush, sixty miles from Napier. This additional fifteen miles of railway, when open for public traffic, aa it immediately

will be/marks another and not altogether unimportant link'in the chahvof commu-nication-with the interior of the country. Along the sixty miles referred to, flourishing townships are springing up, and people are being settled on the land. Close to the Takapn railway station a new settlement is, if we are correctly informed, about to be commenced, and within the Seventy-Mile Bush, _ in close proximity to the intended continuation of the railway, large clearings have been made, and an industrious and thriving population is advancing on the road to independence. At Woodville, where the line from Masterton is to form a junction with the Napier line, and also with the main line to the North, a town is rising which at no distant date promises to be one of the most important inland towns of the country. The land surrounding it is heavily but is exceeded in richness by none in the North Island, unless perhaps by some portion of the Ahnriri plain, - and when it is connected by railway with the capital and other existing centres of population, an immense stimulus will be given to the development of its resources. We cordially agree with those who argue that the vigorous prosecution of the Public Works policy is the great means of promoting the settlement of the country and advancing its prosperity. Every additional mile of railway that is completed marks another step in Now Zealand’s onward progress. "

In the Minister who is how at the head of the Public Works Department we have every confidence, , and,we think that the country is fortunate in having a man of his administrative ability willing to devote his time to the public service in the way. that he does. ; Under his regime we feel sure that the railways will bo pushed on as fast as practicable, and -at the same time with a due regard to economy. In spite, therefore, of the croakings of the prophets of, financial evils, or the doings of the “ Repudiation party” in the matter of native land titles, we believe that the colony is making substantial progress, and that for the most part those whose lot is cast in it have reason to. rejoice. The worst enemies the country has are those, birds of ill-omen who keep repeating the cuckoo-cry of financial disaster. As to these “croakers,” it , would be impossible to stop their mouths, but the best answer to their dismal vaticinations is (as Mr: Hutchison pointed out the other day) the credit of _the colony, as evinced by the readiness with which large loans have lately been effected at very reasonable rates of interest. These are facts which are worth a thousand arguments, and ,will carry weight in the minds of commercial men of standing and capitalists generally, who cannot fail, to be convinced: that the public creditors’, security is as safe here as if their capital were invested' hr the British funds, and atmuch better interest. As our railways are opened and the settlement of - the country; advanced, the revenue will, iiif crease and the bugbear of “additional taxation”. which the. ‘\croakers ’’see looming in the future will, in all probability, not have to> be resorted to at all, or be so imposed as not to. affect the necessaries of life, or to reach any classes in the community except 'those well’able to bear the burden.