THE RAILWAY ROUTE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5016, 21 April 1877, Page 3

THE RAILWAY ROUTE.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —“ Scribendum’s” letter which appears in your paper of this morning contains many most unfair and unjust remarks with regard to Grcytowu and the railway route. I do not hesitate to state that the several of its statements are at variance with facts. These may be commented upon and exposed by those more directly interested than I am, as most of your readers arc, in the welfare and advancement of Greytown ; but I feel bound to state for general information that the recent agitation connected with this matter owes its origin and the attention which the Government has bestowed upon it to a far broader question than your correspondent would like the public to suppose it does, namely, “ tire interests of two or three owners of property at the south end of Greytown,” The Hon. Air. .Waterhouse, two gentlemen from Masterton, Mr. John Martin, and myself had the honor of drawing the attention of the Minister for Public works, the Hon. Mr. Ormond, to the great importance of carrying the line, if found to be practicable, where four-fifths of the traffic existed, and to point out the impolicy of having the line where very little would be likely to be carried. MrlOnnond recognised the importance of tbo views placed before him, and in the main concurred with the deputation. The Government are now having a careful, and I believe an exhaustive survey made of the land nearer Greytown ; and from latest information received I hoar that the surveyors aro far more favorably inclined to recommend the line as proposed by the settlers than they formerly were. None of the gentlemen I have named possess any property at Greytown ; but they were glad to assist residents there as far as they could in laying before Ministers what is not a mere Greytown question, but a subject of the greatest colonial importance. It does seem a matter for regret that petty, unworthy, and jealous feelings should have found such an exponent as “ Scribendum,” and that he should have moreover had the benefit of the use of your valuable columns.—l am &c., R. J. Duncan. ■Wellington, April 19.