THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 1862.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 189, 24 June 1862, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 1862.

It is a singular illustration of the desire to preserve intact the exclusive or isolated character of Provincial Institutions, that although abundant provisions have been made for the Separation of Provinces, there is altogether a lack of any recognised means whereby two or more Provinces can form a union or federation, for the purpose of promoting a common object. It seems to have been contemplated that each Province should dwell within itself, and leave its neighbors to do the same. The story is. told of a backwoods settler, who, because another inhabitant of the wilderness came within twenty miles of him, found himself so: hampered by the press of civilisation, as to determine to place further seas of Prairie land between himself and the rush of population lie so dreaded. Some such desire of isolation seems to have characterized the Provincial settlers, for iis far as we know, the cultivating of mutual relations between different Provinces, has never been attempted in New Zealand.

The fact stands before one when he reflects how the first condition calculated to promote friendly relations, —rapid and frequent intercommunication, is wanting. The opening roads from one Province to another, the forming a highway through the length of the island, have never, we believe, engaged serious consideration. Nature has certainly gifted New Zealand with facilities for water carriage, but experience has demonstrated that where rapidity is required, and for passengers, land carriage is almost always preferable. Even between Dunedin and Port Chalmers, with a beautiful bay or reach of water to connect them, it is very clear the bulk of the passenger traffic will, as soon as circumstances permit, be left to land passage. England is intersected from end to end with can'al3, but water carriage is never thought of, except for heavy goods. Eveniu Victoria, to Portland, which is easily approachable by water, the mails 'are despatched overland, and a line of coaches run to the place. The passenger traffic between the Provinces of the Middle Island is far greater than is commonly supposed. "We find that during the last quarter of 18G1, there-were 1,333 arrivals and 910 departures, from and to the other Provinces, and during the whole of the year 1861, 3,357 arrivals and 1,287 departures. Making allowances for the proportion which

belonged to the North Island, it is still evident the number of passengers -was such as -would have provided ample cinploj'inent to a line of coaches. And it is to be borne in mind that the interchange of population between the different Provinces is constantly on the increase. ' AYe have it on good authority that there are no serious difficulties in tlie way of laying out a passable road from the extreme north of the Island, Nelson, to the extreme South, Southland. To begin witb, from Otago to Southland the road is already usable, ,and we believe offers have already been made to the Government to run coaches between them. The road from Dunedin to Waikouaiti is in course of formation,and if the works be pushed on, a suitable track will be made by tlie spring. The importance of this piece alone, is scarcely to be overrated. If Highlay turn out as expected, there will be a great deal of intercommunication between Waikouaiti and Dunedin, and wbich should depend upon something more reliable than coastal steamers. Beyond Waikouaiti, we believe there will be no difficulty in finding a track over the high range which divides it from Moeraki, and from thence, with few, and easily surmountable impediments, tbe Canterbury boundary can be reached.

.; Erpm Christchurch to the Waitaki, the :chief difficulties are the rivers to be crossed. By the use of ferries and extra coaches these could be managed until such time as bridges could be erected. We are told that the Canterbury authorities hare already made enquiries on the subject, and that coach proprietors have offered to run coaches from Christchurch to the Waitaki in two days. With : the nature ofthe difficulties between Christchurch and Nelson, we are not well acquainted; but we are told that, beyond a few miles which will require cutting and making, no serious difficulty would interpose. -At a small : expense then, the road can be made passable from. Southland to Nelson, and, in all seriousness, we earnestly commend the subject to the earnest attention ofthe authorities of the different Provinces. It is scarcely necessary to dwell on the advantages which would accrue to the various places through which the line of road would pass. Experience shows " that traffic increases, as the means of promoting it are developed. There are something like a dozen places which would derive a direct advantage from the route, whilst hundreds of miles of agricultural country would become settled, and new centres of population would spring up. Under present arrangements, each Province would, of course, have to make its own roads, but there is no re^oii why this should not be'done at once. The tracks might be surve3"ed, and such immediate improvements as were required made. That once .done, they might then jointly subsidise a line of coaches. Even supposing for the first year that the expense were a heavy one, the advantages arising' from it would be more than could readily be defined. We trust that this Province will make every exertion, in the matter, and invite the attention of the other Provinces to the subject.