The Patea Mail. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 1876.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 100, 25 March 1876, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 1876.

Tun indistinct shadow of a railway across this part of the North Island, the cventfual substantiality of which has been more than doubted of late, appears gradually to bo assuming some shape, and it seems as though, after all, at some time or other, the vision will become a reality, and Patca be connected both with New Plymouth and Waitara on the one side, and Wanganui on the other. The first break in the railway gloom appeared in a recent announcement calling for tenders for the formation of the Patea-Manawalu railway, the same to be sent in by Wednesday last. We arc informed, on what we deem good authority, and wc hope it will prove so, that this contract will provide for the earthwork to Waitotara, in which case it is certain that further contracts will speedily bo called lor extension in this direction. This really looks like business, but as yet the contract has not been accepted, and, till that be the case, it may prove somewhat premature to congratulate ourselves too greatly on the promised work. It is not difficult to find difficulties in the way of acceptance, should the Government not be really in earnest, and hires of the kind, prior to the meeting of Parliament, have frequently caught valuable votes, when parties were nearly equally balanced. "Wc trust that this is not one of those, but that it will prove one genuine instalment of good faith in the construction of the promised railwav. A week or two will settle the question. If any contract be accepted, it is certain that the Government is in earnest; if, on the other hand, there are any difficulties raised, if the lowest tender is above the Engineer’s estimate, if there is something or other alleged to bo informal, and no tender be accepted, then the whole business may he considered a sham, and a mere attempt to throw dust in the eyes of the people interested. There is, wc are glad to say, corroborative testimony as to the bona fides of the Government in connection with this strip of the colony—that is to say, with that lying between Wanganui and New Plymouth—in the fact that the telegraph line is at last to be proceeded with, and the gap, hitherto existing, to be thereby closed. It is true that the cost of a telegraph line of a few miles is a drop in the bucket, as compared with the expense of railway construction, but even that indicates a return to good faith and a desire to concede long-needed fairplay. It is therefore quite reasonable to suppose that the Government is in earnest in pushing on the x-ailway, and that the delay hitherto characterising it may bo at last happily put an end to. There is scarcely a line either actually built, or in course of being built, that would prove a better investment, whilst the extent of country that would be opened by its means, and the settlement that would be promoted thereby, can hardly be calculated, to say nothing of the boon it would be to those already in occupation. There is every encouragement to prosecute the proposed line,- and nothing can be urged against it, so our readers may now have grounds for hope that it will be proceeded with vigorously.- At the same time there are two conditions of

confidence in the future. One is that one of the tenders recently called for be accepted ; the other that the extension be to Waitotara, as alleged. As plans arc only to be seen at “Wellington, Wanganui, and Foxlon,” wo are compelled to depend on hearsay for the correctness of the latter. It that should prove fallacious, and the extent of the proposed contract be less, then we can oidy regard it as another small sop in the pan, given to keep the hungry children of the district quiet. We put both sides of the cas<, in the sincere hope that the bright may prove the true one, and railway works may be pushed forward without any further hindrance, alike to the benefit of the colony, and the advantage of those who have cast, or propose to cast, their lots in this part of New Zealand.