The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1878.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 365, 16 October 1878, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1878.

The New Plymouth section of the Waitara-Wanganui Railway is now more than paying expenses. Returns •for the eight weeks from Ist July to 24th August show a total revenue

£845 10s sd, against an expenditure of £796 11s, the percentage of expenditure to revenue being about 94*20. The number of passengers for the eight weeks was 2,548. The length open for traffic is 21 miles. A correspondent writing from New Plymouth says—“ Yon will bo astonished to sec by statistics how uncommonly well both telegraph and railway revenue is increasing in this district. * Where are the croakers who some three years ago said that the railway would not pay for oil to the engine ? Where are the croakers who, a few years ago, said the telegraph would bo a most expensive white elephant to the country —who shook their old severe ignorant heads and said, “ Aye, it will bo we folks we’ a little money that’ll have to pay the piper.’ ” The writer goes on to ask “Is there not, every encouragement for Sir Julius Vogel’s policy still being contiimed. Why, in a few years time, sir, the railways in New Zealand will far more than pay all the interest of the loan.” We quite endorse the view of the above writer, and can only say that the sooner connection between New Plymouth and Wanganui is completed, the sooner will t his District be able to furnish its portion, and more than its portion, of the interest on-the borrowed millions. Yet, about six years ago, the construction of a railway commencing at New Plymouth was violently opposed—the then Treasurer to the Taranaki Provincial Council, amongst others, having taken the trouble to furnish figures of results from various parts of the world to back him in the opinion that the railway could not possibly be made to pay. Mr Carrington (then Superintendent) was lukewarm on the matter. Mr Upjohn in the Pi ovincial Council was the mover of a motion, the debate on which extended over several days, “Thatin the opinion of this Council, it would be politic for the Colony, and greatly to the advantage of Taranaki Province, if the money which it is proposed to spend in making a line of railway from Waitara and New Plymouth to Patea, bo appropriated for the making of a good macadamised road between those places,” &c. Some few years previously, a leading light amongst the old fossil class at Taranaki objected to the metalling of roads for the reason that farmers would have to go to the expense of getting their horses shod. On account of the following which the proposer of the motion against the construction of a line of railway to Patoa had, the Taranaki Herald , in 1872, was compelled in a leading article gravely to set forth the advantages of the railway policy. Mr Syme, speaking in the Taranaki Provincial Council, said that he was astounded to hear that four influential bodies in the Province, besides members of the Council, and other private persons, had approved of the motion. “Of course, in all communities there were to be found parties who had but one idea—men who wore so bound up with that idea, whose minds were so cramped, that another idea could not be forced into their brain. They were conservativ—but n conservative that detested the introduction of anything new—that disliked that innovation of modern improvement. It was hopeless to show the various benefits to be derived from .railways to such as these—they would not pay the slightest attention to yon ; it would be no good showing them what railways had done for England —that it had been the right arm to enrich the country, and by its fire, to drive primeval ignorance, before it—leaving the ignorant to bewail the chances they had cast aside.” The railway now pays, and the telegraph yields a surplus. These are facts which the old fossil croakers cannot deny. Mr T. Kelly, M.H.R., was one of the gentlemen who was thoroughly in earnest about the commencement of railway works at New Plymouth, and it was chiefly through his persistency in the Assembly, that the New Plymouth toWanganui line got well placed in the schedule of railways to be constructed. It must, therefore, be gratifying to him, and others who worked with him, to know that the line is now paying although it forms bnt a very small, and that the least-likely-to-pay, portion of the whol°. As the line gets opened further, the working expenses will be bnt slightly increased, whilst the transit of passengers and traffic in goods will enormously in crease. It is desirable that every effort should bo made to induce Government to push ahead. Government lately promised that a portion of the main trunk lino should be commenced from Patea. There are as yet no signs of a start being made. It is even asserted that Carlyle will be left out in the cold, in spite of the fact that harbour works are in progress, the result of which will be that

direct trade can be carried on with the chief ports of the colony. We do not believe any one in Patea County can be got to say they do not believe the railway—even a short length—would not pay. It is certain, it would pay handsomely. Borrowing powers have been granted to the Harbor Board, which will enable still further works to be undertaken, and will still further increase iacilUies for trading with the oliter world. Yet the Government hang back from their promises to carry out railway works,, and have even threatened to heavily handicap the County, as against other parts of the Colony. The gratifying results which have been obtained in such an unlikely place as Ta vanaki, should have some influence in leading the Government to act at least justly by Patea, and stimulate them to carry out the-promise of starting a length of railway immediately..

In a report dated Hawera, lOtli August, laid before both Houses of the General Assembly, Major Brown, Civil Commissioner, gives an account of the commencement of the survey of the Waimate Plains* Katene was engaged to notify the commencement of the survey at all the native; villages on the Plains. “He did the work fearlessly and thoroughly, and I doubt if it would have been safe for any other of the Native police to attempt it.” Katene told the natives when the survey would commence, and when notices which were given them were torn up, he pulled another out of his pocket, anil read it to them. On the last occasion of going round, Ka'.ene “was accompanied by Mr W. Williams, licensed interpreter, whose advice the natives have a great regard for, more especially as he is not a Government onirer.” The natives on the Plains had been disturbed by statements of Warerata, acting under European influence, that the survey would be supported by a strong armed force. This wrong impression was removed by Katene, “At noon on Mon-* day, 29th July, I [Major Brown] reached Rangitoto, on the Plains, about a mile the other side of Waingongoro, accompanied by Captain P. Wilson, Mr Williams, Katene, and Kaitana, the two latter both Native Police, and principal owners of the land I was on. Te Iki and his party, about thirty, followed us here, and he made his protest against the survey going on,” The protest is spoken of as being very mild. An alarm, commencing at Nonnanby, had extended to Hawera, that the natives were going to fire on the survey party, which deterred the men from crossing the Waingongoro'River. Captain Wilson was afterwards sent to tell the men that the interview was over, and that the natives had retired, which had the effect of reassuring and sending the men forward, When the camp was formed about one hundred yards from Woodhall’s Redoubt. From that time forward, in spite of the fears of some of the settlers, and of many false reports, the survey had continued, and there was no reason to fear interference by (he natives. Mr R. S. Thompson was engaged to accompany the surveyors as interpreter.