ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 328, 8 June 1878, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

[We are at all times ready to give expression to every shade of opinion, but in no case do ■we bold ourselves responsible for the sentiments of our correspondents.] RAILWAY QUESTION. (To the Editor of the P atea Mail.) , Sik, —The Wanganui Herald , of June Ist contains an article commenting on action taken by Waverley settlers at their meeting on the 25th May. The first resolution passed at meeting, that the Government should push on, with as little delay as possible, the railway from Wanganui to Taranaki, the Editor of the Herald thinks perfect!}’’ fair ; but of the second one, proposing to send delegates to Wellington to interview the Ministry, and requesting the County Council to defray their expenses, he .says —By this resolution, the settlers pledge themselves to a course of action unnecessary and expensive. The third resolution, appointing a committee to draw up a memorial to the Government, urging the claims of this district for railway works, and to collect information to support the prayer of the same—that, too, he thinks unnecessary, but for the last part. Commenting on the second resolution, he says, “ Do the settlers think that delegates Avonld have more influence with the Government than their own members ?” The question,was put to Mr. Fox, the night he addressed his constituents in Waverley, whether a memorial signed by the settlers, to the Government, urging their claims for railway extension, would strengthen the hands of om representatives, and he said 'A would. But it- seems we ou&ht to consulted the Editor of the Herald, instead of Mr Fox, on the action we ought , to take. He seems to think that memorialising the Government, and sending delegates to interview the Ministry implies a want of confidence in our representatives. Mr Fox, it seems, docs not think so, and I am very much mistaken if Mr Bryce will do so either. At any rate, we will have the privilege of hearing his opinion on the matter on the 12th instant ; and I suppose it is not of much importance to the settlers, what the Editor of the Herald's opinion is. And then, there is the squandering of the County funds, defraying these delegates’ expenses to Wellington and back. What a wonderful economist Mr Editor must be. Is it not possible that the delegates—men living in our midst, who know the state the main line of road running through the County is in, better than the Government or our representatives, or even the Editor of the Herald —who know that the County rate and subsidy will do very little towards keeping this road in repair, for the reason that there is no good material in the district to repair it with, and the rubbish which of necessity must be used, because there is no better, is at such a distance from the line of road, that it is utterly useless to attempt to keep it in repair for heavy traffic—does it not appear to the Editor of the Herald that these delegates might be able to show as much cause for this railway being pushed on to completion as might induce the Government to take action in the matter sooner than they would otherwise do. If so, would a few pounds be squandered in paying these delegates’ expenses. If the ratepayers in the Patea County think that the money expended in paying these men’s expenses will not be thrown away, and the County Council grants the money, it is immaterial what outsiders think. That this line of railway will pay as well, if not better than, any other line-in the Colony, no one seemsto doubt. And the extra price the Government land would bring, which this line would pass through, or near to, would more than defray the cost of making the whole line. The Waimaie Plains alone, computed at about 300,000 acres —by making the railway up to these Plains, and selling the laud after, would enhance their value £1 per acre at least, is the general opinion. The distance from Waitotara toInglewood, about 60 miles, at £4,000 per mile for construction, £240,000, beside the unsold land at the back of Mount Eginont, which the railway would pass through, and other blocks along the coast, which would be onchanced in value by railway communication. The Banks in the Colony would advance the money for constructing this line, I should think, by giving them a lein on the Waimate Plains.

If the Editor of the Herald thinks that, by the action taken at the meeting i» Waverley, the settlers meant to imply a want of confidence in our representatives, he was never more mistaken. It clearly stated at the meeting, that neither the Government nor our representatives were to blame for the delay in tire construction of our railway works, but that the blame rested with ourselves, in not bringing the matter more prominently before them.

Apologising for taking up so much of your space.—l am, &c., WAVERLEY SETTLER.

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