The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1878.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 357, 18 September 1878, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1878.

The “ down-south’’ trip of the members of the Assembly has been the subject of much newspaper comment. One and all agree that it has been the means of laying the foundation of a better understanding, and has more firmly than ever established confidence in the Public Works and Immigration policy initiated by Sir Julius Vogel. The question of to whom is chief credit due is variously answcied. The special correspondent to the N. Z. Times appears to have taken the fairest view in the following words—- “ Who is the originator of the Public Works policy is a question that is exercising the minds of some. To <he majority the answer “ Vogel at once presents itself, but in Christchurch some say “ Moorhouse,” and at Dunedin others declare for “Macandrew. Hie | most reasonable reply would seem to be that Mr Moorhouse is entitled to the full credit for the Lyttelton tunnel; Macandrew is the father of the Otago railways as they stood before 187 i ; but to Sir Julius Vogel is due the entire honor won by the actual origination ot a great colonial scheme of public works. In the minds of many men there prevailed a belief that some day New Zealand would have railways, but to most that time was seen far off in a distant and uncertain future. Sir Julius Vogel boldly proposed the apparently impossible, and forced the people to become converts by the strength of his reasoning. It is a matter of history that his opponents foretold a heavy indebtedness, but had the original scheme been carried out the ; lands that would have been reserved i would hn.vfi on the completion of the | lines repaid their cost. Why land was i uol placed at the disposal of the colony ! for so wise a purpose is also a matter of history. The feeling in Dunedin seems to be strongly in favor of giving Sir Julius Vogel the place of honor as the actual originator of the great scheme of public works that has made New Zealand advance more rapidly than has of late years any of her sister colonics.” We thoroughly endorseJffiat view. The special correspondent to the Taranaki Herald says, “ The members [meaning Northern members] are much impressed with the resources of the South, and the ample field for taxation that has almost lain dormant.” What has been seen will no doubt act ns a stimulous to North Island members to hurry on the completion of a through line from Auckland to Wellington, to enable Southern members to have their understandings enlightened as to North Island resources. The hint given by the correspondent as to the “ ample field for taxation that has almost lain dormant,” ought to be pondered over by North Island members. It is patent to all that the South has managed to get the lion’s share of expenditure. The Governor seems to have had that idea in view, when, at the banquet in Dunedin, in speaking to the importance of completing the through line in the South Island first, he said “ Yon have nearly done so. You hare obtained the benefits, and yon should be ready to extend the hand of good fellowship towards your brother colonists.” He said “T believe that railway communication from one end of the colony to the other will smooth and soften these little feelings of animosityand jealousy which all know exist, and which, I trust, will soon be buried. Gentlemen, whether yon come from England, Ireland, or Scotland, you are all New Zealanders; yon are all founders of a country which I believe in a few years time will be a great one, and your object ought to be to cherish that country, and make the best of that which a bountiful Providence has given you.” The south being now so well placed in the matter of railways, if not willing, should be made to contribute, or at any rate, should not be allowed to continue appropriating so much ot the general revenue for its own special benefit. We fear there has been too much ot the feeling that Canterbury and Otago are New Zealand. It is pretty evident from Mr Macandrew’s action, that he thinks so of his own part of the colony, and means to keep it so, by serving it whilst he has the power. He is not satisfied with having main lines constructed at the expense of the colony, but also requires branch or local linesjn his own part of the country constructed at -the genera] expense. This should hot be allowed. The question is being pointedly asked in the House, by what authority Govorment entered into engagement with Mr Proudfoot, for the construction of the Tapanni to Waiphi railway. It is so purely a local benefit, at the expense of the colony, and without the sanction of Parliament, that we are pleased to see the matter is being pressed home. We do not object to the principle of setting aside land to pay cost of construction of lines to open up new country, if it is done fairly, but Mr Macandrew talks one thing and acts another. Again quoting from the Governor’s speech —“ We must remember that in legislating for a country,, the proper thing to do is not to legislate for any particular spot, but for the general benefit, happiness, and prosperity "of the whole.” This is just what it does uot suit the Public Works Minister to remember. One man, or any set of men,-must not be allowed to tamper with the public estate, lor the benefit of particular localities. No more should they be allowed to rob one part of the colony, from spleen, or through ignorance of the true circumstances of the case, as is proposed

to ho clone with Patca. There is ample field in the South for taxation, that has almost lain dormant, and which should now be exercised, North Island members should take that to heart, and never cease giving prominence toil, until there is a belter adjustment between the railway and other public works expenditure in the two islands. We fear it will be no easy matter to induce the South to agree to the taxation .which it is so well able to bear, but trust the knowledge gained By the northern members on the “ down south ” trip, will be turned to good account in increasing the better understanding, the foundation of which is generally believed to have been now laid, and that the result will be seen in legislation less for the benefit of particular spots, than “ for the general benefit, happiness, and prosperity of the whole. Thu completion of the main trunk lines from Napier to Wellington, and from Wellington to Auckland, should be the object of the North, and until this is completed, there should be united effort to prevent the diversion of funds for the construction of purely local lines in, the ■South.