WEST COAST RAILWAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5581, 17 February 1879, Page 2

WEST COAST RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOR OE THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —It would appear by the Fox ton and Marton papers that the settlers in those districts are most desirous that the contemplated West Coast Railway should terminate at Foxton. Now, I can assure you that, with the exception of a few interested persons, the settlers in Rangatikei and adjacent districts do not care two straws whether the railway joins at Foxton or Palmerston. One or two of the smaller towns, being at present left out in the cold, are naturally anxious to be linked on to the great western line, and the being so comparatively short, they are making au effort to join Foxton, it being nearer as a shipping port. But if the Sanson people experience the same treatment as Fielding and Palmerston, they, like them, will prefer sending their produce to Wanganui for export rather than trust to the tender mercies of the Foxton people. How is it that nearly all the sawn timber and produce is now being sent from Palmerston and Fielding to Wanganui for shipment ? It is not a quarter of the distance to Foxton from these places that it is to Wanganui, and yet producers prefer the latter to the former port. And the settlers at Sanson and surrounding districts will find it to their interest to do the same, unless a very material change takes place at Foxton. To talk of the line to Foxton, which must of necessity run through an intermediate range of shifting sand-hills, opening up a large tract of timbered country, is merely a wilful attempt to play upon the credulity of the ignorant. No doubt in their eyes it would be very desirable to commence the line from Foxton, as it would give the disinterested settlers in that locality the first slice of the large expenditure which must necessarily be incurred ; but as to opening up country, it is all fudge, as it would do nothing of the sort. Foxton is already the terminus of the inland railway, and if a junction is made at Palmerston, the carriages can still go on to Foxton. It is selfish and unpatriotic for the people of Foxton to attempt to divert the line to Foxton instead of allowing it to go through that magnificently timbered country running between Waikanae and Fitzherbert. By one route it would open up half a million of acres of the finest timbered country in New Zealand, and give profitable employment to thousands of our fellow-settlers ; by the other, it would run through barren sandhills unfit for human occupation, and terminate at Foxton. The Government have certainly committed many mistakes in railway construction, but I doubt much if they will be led to commit such an egregious mistake as the Foxton people are endeavoring to lead them into. Let them cultivate the trade already within their reach, by an enlightened and liberal policy ; and then more faith would be placed in their asseverations. My motto is, “The greatest good for the greatest number," and this can be better accomplished by making the road by way of Fitzherbert rather than by way of Foxton.— l am, &c., New Zealand.