THE PATEA MAIL. SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1875.

Patea Mail, Volume 1, Issue 2, 17 April 1875, Page 2

THE PATEA MAIL. SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1875.

If there is one portion of the Colony in which a railway would prove reproductive it is the district of Patea, The soil, climate, and groat producing capabilities now being rapidly developed fully warrants us in making this .bold assertion, but there is another tiling that oughttp.be taken into consideration, and that is, the fact of such large areas of land remaining unsold, the value of which would be greatly enhanced by the extention of the railway to this district The Government have

had from time to time a practical proof of the value of the Patea district by the large amounts realised from the sale of 4ands. There are many other strong arguments that could bo advanced in favour of the commencement of the work we arc now advocating. It is true that the Waitara-Wanganui railway has been commenced at one end, and that tenders arc invited for a section at the other, but the work in both cases is of such an exceptionally heavy nature that the time to effect its completion is likely to be of a long duration, so inn eh so indeed that we fear unless an intermediate section is constructed that the whole of the loan will have been expended before either end portions of the line arc completed, and in the event of such a contingency arising the districts situated between Brunswick and Mount Egmont the cream of the whole Colony—would be practically shut out from participating in the benefits to be derived from railway communication for many years to come, while the settlers resident in those districts would have to share the burden of paying the interest on moneys expended in the construction of railways in other parts of the Colony of an unproductive character. A section from Whennakura to Wairoa, or one to Hawcra, is capable of easy construction, in consequence of the level nature of the country to be traversed, and in either case we affirm, that the line would pay working expenses before the junction with Wanganui or Waitara would be effected. In advocating the construction of an intermediate section we are not asking for more than is now being done on many lines in process of construction, and in places 'where the prospects of remuneration are not near so favourable as compared with this district. The Patea river offers every facility for the transit of the plant, and we contend that there can he no valid reason why a local section should not be put in hand without delay. Every effort should he made by the settlers to endeavour to secure the accomplishment of this important work. We would suggest the advisability of a petition being prepared and circulated throughout the district for signature, to ho presented at the ensuing session of Parliament, setting forth our claims for a share of the Railway Loans now being liberally expended throughout the colony. There wilt no doubt be a great scramble among the Provinces for a slice of the new loan, and in order to add additional force to the petition, it would be well that meetings should be held throughout the district on the subject, and the expression of opinion likely to be elicited would go far in strengthening the hands

of our member, who we trust will be found active in his efforts to secure to this district the early establishment of rail way communication.