The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1879.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 392, 18 January 1879, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1879.

Manawatu. Rangitikei, and Patea, appear just now to have railway on the brain. We certainly have had much to say on the subject. Manawatu and Ramritikei papers have said more. The necessity for pushing on with the main trunk line on this coast, is daily becoming more apparent. The continuation of the line to the several places named, is almost of vital importance. Our Manawatu contemporary, in a late issue, came out strong on the terminus question, furnishing abundant testimony that Members on both sides of the House, as well as the Public Works Minister, wore of the one opinion, namely, that the point of contact, from. Wellington ;with the line already in operation from Wanganui, should be Foxton. Palmerston and Fitzherbert settlers are equally desirous that their respective towns should be the point of contact. Had we a voice in the matter, wo should vote for the Port of Foxton being tapped, being firmly of opinion that the main trunk lino on this coast should, wherever practicable, tap available ports. We have •immense faith in the capabilities of this coast in regard to its productiveness, and we look upon it as fortunate rather than otherwise, that at convenient places all down the. coast comparatively small outlay will give ready facilities for communication by sea with the chief ports of the colony. Opunake, Carlyle, Wanganui, Foxton, are all places sufficiently wide apart for it to be needful that they should be utilized as much as possible to ease the heavy inland traffic which in a few years will grow up. Long lengths of single line light railway, as now being constructed in the North Island, cannot be relied upon to serve all requirements as the land gets peopled. It cannot even be expected that it will pay to transport grain and farm produce say from Carlyle to New Plymouth or Wanganui, for shipment to Auckland or Wellington, whence again it would require to be ro-shipped for export in ocean going steamers or sailing vessels for Groat Britain or elsewhere. It is essential that the cost of transport from forms to English or intercolonial markets should be kept as low as possible. For cheapness, nothing can equal water carriage. Railways for moderate distances are superior to roads for inland traffic, in point of speed and cheapness. The limits within winch transport of agricultural produce by rail for exporting will pay are pretty well known. New Plymouth and Wanganui from Carlyle are both without those limits, under present circumstances. Were New Plymouth and Wanganui chief ports—with their ocean going steamers and ships in direct communication with all parts of the world, we should have little, if anything, to say against some of the smaller ports being skipped, so far as the main trunk line of railway is concerned. It would then pay to send produce all the way by rail to either the one place or the other. Under present circumstances it will not, as a re-shipment to Auckland or Wellington would in each case be necessary. Seeing that Foxton and Carlyle, and Opunake shortly will be almost equal to Wanganui or New Plymouth as regards shipping facilities—they can but ship for re-shipment at Wellington or Auckland: the other places named can do the same—we are strongly in favour of the main trunk line topping Foxton and Carlyle. There is no question of the practicability of so doing simply that of a little extra cost. We cannot understand the shortsightedness of some country settlers, who having been always used to sending produce or stock to Wanganui or New Plymouth, cannot get out of the notion that they mast always continue to do so, and, as a consequence, be opposed to the opening of other available ports, which would really, by lessoning the cost of carriage, increase their own profits. For this reason we were mnch surprised at the show of opposition by some Waverley settlers to Carlyle being tapped by the main trunk line of railway, or even to the very remote possibility of their being taxed for what some are pleased to term “ experimental works iu the Patea harbour.” Improving the navigation of Patea River—and the total cost of completing proposed work is comparatively small—would immensely benefit all land-owners as far as Waitotara, and by the higher value which would thereby be given to

land, and the larger profit on produce which, by reason of lower rates for carriage, would be secured, would famish means to open inland roads now so much required. In our opinion adjacent small townshipscnnnot afford to tight. They should aid each other where possible, hut should not try to injure. Progress at Carlyle (the nearest available port) particularly in the matter of railway and harbor works, cannot fail to benefit Waveriey, Hawera, and intermediate places. They should then try lend each other a helping hand. Carlyle cannot help the superior advantages it possesses over inland towns for communication by sea with the chief ports of the colony. For this advantage it suffers in having land on but one side, the sea being on the other, whereas inland towns have Jand and settlers all aronnd, and as pro-

dueiug centres are better circumstanced than sea ports. The ports should be made the best of as mediums of transport. This brings us back to the railway question. A start being made from Patea River, could every chain as made bo turned to profitable account, and would allow of connection to be made at loss cost and in quicker time with Hawera on the one hand and Waverley on the- other. The- Public Works Minister has promised to yay this coast a visit. Deputations will wait on him'at various points to urge their claims to consideration for railway and other public works. Each place and deputation should be satisfied to speak for itself, without attempting to injure a neighbour. We do not think Mr Macandrew is any too favourably disposed towards this part of the colony, It would no doubt delight him to find a conflict of opinion—splendid excuse for taking time to consider, and so delaying railway construction. We need not pursue the subject further. Each deputation and place should strive its utmost to get the Minister to understand what they consider best—at the same time being careful not to speak against other persons or places.