The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5541, 31 December 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1878.

Our telegrams yesterday made special allusion to the preparations for celebrating the completion of what must in truth be called a great national undertaking. The Hue of railway between Dunedin and Invercargill will be opened in the course of a few days for public traffic, the wliolo of the work being finished. is now an unbroken chain of railway extending from Amberley, which is thirty-four miles to the north of Christchurch, to Bluff harbor, about eighteen miles south of lavorcargill. The entire length thus completed is considerably more than four hundred miles. But besides this main trunk line there are numerous feeders which are being gradually extended into the more settled parts of the country lying on either side. The impetus which each of these feeders has given to settlement, and to the traffic on the main line, has,been very remarkable. In many parts the whole face of the country has been changed. Where a few years ago the traveller would in a day's journey see not one solitary patch ot cl«aring, and soarcely a human being, he may now be gratified by observing miles of continuous cultivation, and farmhouses dotted about in all directions. ; Sonio part of this change- would doubtless have taken place had the iron horse never been introduced, but a great deal is duo to the railways, which by enabling produco to be readily brought to market have conducod largely to tho settlement of tho

land. The result of the expenditure is most encouraging, and should teach the lesson that in new countries where tho land is fairly good railways are almost certain to pay, if not directly, at least indirectly. New Zealand can be justly proud of the great work she has already accomplished, and is still adding to, even though tho people are heavily, taxed to pay for it. Tho burden will grow' lighter as time runs on and population becomes denser in the natural course of things, whilst the benefits will as certainly become heavierand more deeplyappreciated. We can remember tho time when the ruin of the colony'was predicted by some generally shrewd men for no other reason than thatshehad embarked in the Public Works and Immigration scheme, and had borrowed largely to give effect to it ; but that day has passed. No one will venture now to predict ruin for New Zealand, if only her public men will be content to exercise a reasonable amount of prudence in the conduct of affairs. It is certainly rather difficult to feel a perfect sense of security with such a Premier as Sir George Grey and such a Colonial Treasurer as Mr. BAtLANCE, but even the lamentable exhibition which these two gentlemen have politically made of themselves, need not excite much alarm in the minds of persons possessing an ordinary amount of fortitude, for the time rapidly approaches when neither of them will any longer have in his hands the power of doing mischief. If jobs, speculative railways, such as the proposed Martin's Bay line, and utterly absurd finance, were to continue to be the order of the day, there might be cause for alarm, even with such evidencea of widespread prosperity as are to be found on every side ; but fortunately there is no reason for supposing that the Ministry whieh next session will accept office can by any possibility be so utterly incapable as their predecessors. In both Houses are to be found a sufficiency of men of talent, education, and sound judgment. We can, therefore, look forward to the future with good hope that the remainder of the great New Zealand railway scheme will be carried out well and wisely ; well as regards the substantial character of the works, and wisely as regards the economical handling of the public funds. Weareglad to observe that tho intention is to celebrate the opening of the through line from Amberley to the Bluff in a manner worthy of the occasion, and that numerous invitations have been issued to public -men in different parts of ihe colony. We are no advocates for " celebrations" of every little public event, but this one may be well considered an exception, because it is of national importance, if for no other reason than that the railway effectually links together three such towns as Invercargill, Ohristchurch, and Dunedin.