The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1878.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 323, 22 May 1878, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1878.

Notice is given of a meeting to be held at Waverley on Saturday evening, to consider “what are the best steps to be taken to induce Government to complete the line of jailway from Wanganui to Taranaki.” A very desirable object and one which should be worked for at both ends of the district. From the manner in which Government have acted in regard to the Waitotara contract, very little can be hoped from promises. Sir"George Grey, while on his stumping tour, was so lavish in promising this and that and the other to every place where lie was well i ecoived, that it was calculated by a contemporary some millions of money would be required to carry out wo ks for which aid was promised. And

yet, on any application for aid, the stereotyped reply is given —“ On account of the unsettled state of European affairs and the uncertainty in regard to raising ot loan,” <fec., the promised aid" cannot be given. So it will continue to be. The Grey Government appear to have determined not to trust —but rather to try and disgust—the very statesman who has proved himself par excellence the money raiser, and who has been chiefly instrumental, by his policy and personal influence, in raising New Zealand to the eminent position it has now attained amongst British possessions, in the Home money market, and in the esteem of the masses of the people of Great Britain —we mean Sir Julius Vogel. His fame is wide-spread, and his business tact and influence great, as has been over and over again proved to the benefit of New Zealand.' He carries weight in whatever direction ho turns his talents. Yet two gentlemen, scarcely known beyond the limits of their own localities, arc sent home, on the pretence of assisting Sir Julius, or, as has been freely asserted, of supplanting him—either one or the other being ready to jump into, and try to fill the position so well and profitably (to the Colony) occupied by Sir Julius Vogel. It is like setting up a mole-hill in the foolish belief that it would overshadow Mount Egmont. From the manner in which the Grey Government are acting, one can hardly believe they are in earnest about raising the loan sanctioned by Parliament. For the sake of placing their own pets to the front, valuable time has been wasted,' and the chances of obtaining the money, thrown back. Sir Julius was on the spot, thoroughly well posted in New Zealand affairs and requirements, having by experience learned how properly to set to work to float either large or small loans, and with the will to do so. The power or authority to act, appears to have been withheld, and possibly for a similar reason to that which it is believed prompted the stoppage of the intended survey of the Waimate Plains—the desire of the Grey Government to reap the fruits of other men’s labor, and get the credit to which others wore entitled. In. no other light can we view trie sending home of Messrs Wood and Larnaeh. Roads, railways, and other public works, are everywhere wanted. Aid has been freely promised. “Oh account of the unsettled state of European affairs/' &c. “ We have not got the money, and cannot tell when it will be got.” Convenient excuse. We fear it will bo difficult to devise means to induce Government to complete the line of railway from Wanganui to Taranaki. They simply have not got the money, and from the way they have so far been shaping do not appear to be genuinely ■anxious to get it. It must be clear to Government that through communication between Wanganui and Taranaki must be directly and indirectly profitable. On the Taranaki side the line runs through forests, the timber of which, now ruthlessly wasted, the settlers on the open lands would readily absorb, if it could be brought to them at such rates as could be done by railway. The open land, through which the line would necessariliy run from Normanby and on through Patea County, is unequalled in fertility by that of any other part of New Zealand, and with a railway passing through, no limit could be set to its productiveness. Settlers simply require the stimnlous of cheap and ready transport to set them What should have most wefg-ht with Government, and which ought to be sufficient to make them consider the proposed line as of first importance, is the immensely increased value which would be given, and revenue which would accrue from Crown lands, which it is within their power to put in the market. The increased value which would bo given to lands on the Waimate Plains by construction of railway at back of the Mountain, would alone, more than repay the whole cost of through line. Government Engineers are fully aware of this, and so, no doubt, is the Government. In moving in the matter, as at W averley, we believe the settlers are taking a step in the right direction. They mast, however, go beyond the mere assertion that a through line would pay. Facts and figures must be collected, and put together in such form that there can be no disputing them. To do this much time will have to be devoted to the subject by clear headed men. Patea is, or has been, unfortunately situated, being at the extreme ends of two- Provincial districts, so that great difficulty will be experienced in the collection of information. We trust however that the importance of the matter will bring forth the men, and that the work will be well done.

Since the above was in type we have received the following not very cheerful Press Agency telegram, dated Wellington,. May 20th—“ The Government have notified by circulars to all tenderers for public'works that, in consequence of the threatening attitude of European affairs, they are not prepared to assume larger liabilities than are absolutely necessary, and therefore postpone accepting any more tenders for publicworks until more satisfactory intelligence is received from London relative to financial matters, and the possibility of floating a new loan. It is stated that £150,000 of w®rk is thus stopped.”