The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JULY 1, 1876.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 61, 1 July 1876, Page 2

The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JULY 1, 1876.

Fr.ojt our telegraphic summary of the proceedings in the House last night it will he seen tft.it the subject of railway management was discussed. So far as Canterbury wus concerned it cut a sorry figure, for the majority of members from thai Province actually condemned the management of their own railways. They even went so far as to state that the public sustained great loss and Inconvenience through the meftietent way in which the Canterbury vuilway system was carried out. The charge against the Canterbury railway officials must have been bad indeed when even the representatives of the Province wtre unable to say a word in its favour. We know, o: course, that comparisons arc odious : but on this occasion they must have been particularly so, for what a contrast there is in the statement made regp.rdtng the Otago railways and their management. Our system was characterised as controlled in a most efficient manner, and wast spoken of in terms of the highest praise. Wo confess that we are not surprised greatly at the result of the discussion, for the whole secret in railway management lies in the class of man who is

manager, and iu Mr. William Coxyers, Otago possesses one of the best men it is possible to obtain. Mr. Coxyers is a man who does not believe in what we may term management on paper, but goes into the tiling practically, and by careful observations, is able to suggest improvements and make alterations conducive to the interests of the travelling public. It affords us great pleasure to notice the encomiums passed by the House on the management of Otago Railways, and the announcement will be as pleasing to Mr. Coxyers as it is satisfactory to the Otago public. Now, let us turn to the remarks made on the Auckland Railways. " The public are so dissatisfied with the railway arrangements that they will not patronise the line." Well, this is a pretty state of things, and who is to blame for it ? The answer is easy to be found, the Government for allowing a man to have control of the lines who is simply obnoxious to the public and incompetent for the responsible situation he lias been pitchforked into. Civility does not cost much, but even this commodity appears to be very scarce in connection with the routine work of the Auckland lines. It is not so ! very long ago that the Manager of these lines, in one of his official communications, designated some volunteers whom he had ! to convey to a certain place as "nuisances." ! When a man capable of penning such a | calumny as this, is at the head of affairs, is ! it to be wondered at that the railways do I not pay. As Select Committees are all i the rage during the present session, it ! would not be a bad idea to have one on i mil way management throughout the ', Colony. Tiie Northern people would be ! able to gather a lot of information as to i the proper way in which the system should ! be worked, and we feel sure that the Otago i General Manager would only be too pleased ! to show them how it is he contrives to : make his lines pay, and give them lessons : on railway work in general, for by the remarks as made in the House last night, it would appear that the Managers require a teacher sadlv.