ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 884, 14 February 1879, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING MAIL. . Sib, —It is a matter of great importance that : the permanent passenger station should be proceeded \rith. lam told that it is to the Traffic Manager a subject of grateful thanksgiving every night that no '■grand smash" has taken place at our

over - crowded and very inconvenient station. The knowledge that it must come some day, and the dread ever present to his mind that it may be to-day, is turning his hair prematurely grey, and has made him a prayerful man. Now, I learn to-day that the new station had its position fixed, as Mr. Macandrew long ago told us, and would have been in course of erection, if not near completion, at this date had not some persons who, mole like, work under ground, convinced the department that the site fixed upon was especially objectionable, and the beginning of the work was postponed, and another plan considered in place thereof, because the Eden-street site was very unpopular in the town. Now, as Mr. Lowe, the Engineer-in-Charge, is in the town, and Mr. Ballance will be here to-night, can anything be done to show these gentlemen that the persons or parties in question have abused the ear of the Government most grossly. The public meeting on the question showed very clearly that three-fourths of the residents of Oamaru were opposed to any local interference with the Government decision, and I am convinced that to-day, in defiance of what the Mayor, the Harbor Board, and the Chamber of Commerce may assert or insinuate, a similar vote would be carried ; and I say without fear that those who have so pertinaciously insisted to the department that the choice of the Eden-street site was unpopular with a majority of the townspeople have wilfully and knowingly attempted to mislead our rulers, and deserve the strongest reprobation. —I am, &c. J.