The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1879.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 395, 29 January 1879, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1879.

Ik the Patea Mail of the 11th September last, it was mentioned that Mr G. F. Sherwood had returned from Wellington, on Monday, the 9th, and that “ Previously to his leaving Wellington, Mr Sherwood had the authority of Ministers for stating that instructions would be issued for the immediate construction of a section of the railway commencing at the Paiea River.” It will he recollected that Mr Sherwood had for some time been in Wellington in connection with the P ;£ea Harbor Bill, and had necessarily been in frequent communication with Ministers and Members of the Assembly. At that time it was doubtless thought desirable to please Patoans, and that the surest way of doingso, and stopping railway agitations would bo by promising that a start would be immediately made from Pa tea, Smveyors almost directly afterwards being reported as at work within the County, made it appear as if the promise was intended to be canned out. It soon, however, became known that the Engineers had no instructions to start from any point on the Patca River. A railtvay meeting was shortly after held at Carlyle, when a series of strongly worded resolutions were carried, and forwarded to Government, in which the case for Carlyle was stated, and a request made that the line should he biought through or near Carlyle, tiie advantages of so doing being clearly set forth. The Public Works Minister (the Hon. Mr Macaudrcw) replied Line surveyed was located after careful exploration, and is believed to be the best line. As surveyors are in the district however they will be directed to make further examination of the country and trace out another line with the view of comparison. Government’s great desire is to fix upon whatever will conduce most to public interest.” The railway survey Engineers were seen about Carlyle lor a short time. Then Mr Knorp (with whom the final decision as to route was belicvc-d to rest) paid a short visit. Nothing of a satisfactory nature resulted from his visit. And the surveyors disappeared. The promise made by Ministers was that “ instructions would be issued lor the immediate construction ot a section of the railway commencing at the Patea River.” The facts really are that four months have passed away, and the surveyors have scarcely been caught sight ot near the Patea River, the survey has not boon carried out, ami the probabilities of a start at construction being made

arc very remote. Surveyors are at work elsewhere—anywhere but at the point where construction was to ho first begun. At the time the promise was made, affairs political were not any too promising for the Ministry, and it begins to look ns if the fear of adverse criticism

and agitation was great, and that it was deemed expedient to stave off difficulties by promises which there was no intention to fulfil. Wellington is just now much exorcised about railway station site on the reclaimed land. Mr Macandrew being waited upon by a very influential deputation from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, although very stiff in opposition to placing the goods station were asked, and going the length in effect and almost in very words of telling the deputation that he (Mr Macandrew) knew better than those personally interested what would best serve their convenience and the interests of Wellington, still promised that a passenger platform and station should be erected. The very next davit was announced that the proposed station would bo, shifted to the hack of the Government Buildings, as the Engineers had so decided. No explanation whatever accompanied the intimation. It seemed that Mr Macandrew had predetermined what should bo, and whatever the consequences to Wel-

lington merchants and trade, lie would not budge. Shortly before the session closed Mr Ballancc said, in reply to the question of the honorable member for AVellingtou City with regard to the sale of the Wellington reclamation, that it was the intention of the Government to sell only so much of the land as would

recoup, within the year, the sum of £89,000 —the cost of reclamation—and the sum of £30,000 for the completion of the Wellington Hospital. It was the intention of the Government to sell according to the last plan.” Mr Macandrew has determined to sell the lot, which is estimated to yield half a million of money, and with the proceeds construct the Wellingtou-Foxton railway, not even being willing to grant to Wellington City sufficient land for a passenger station at the point where years ago it was decided by'Tfoo Provincial Council

land should bo reserved for both goods and passenger station. The W. Z. Times says —“ The Wellington reclamation is expected to pay for the West Coast railway, and the money will be nsed for that purpose, whether the representatives of the Wellington District desire it or not.” We could furnish other equally glaring cases, and have lately given extracts from other papers of Mr Macandrew’s highhandedness and determination to do only as he himself wills, no matter what interests arc thereby sacrificed. We simply give prominence to ‘the above cases in order that readers may judge of the manner of man to be dealt with should lie by chance pay a visit to this coast. He is not easily made to see from any other than his own stand point. His action in regard to the seizure of Patea land revenue is too well known to require mentioning. Our chief hope is that a visit may show him that it would be profitable to his own department to push on railway works on this coast. In no other way do we expect him to be ind need to keep promises made. He should however be .allowed no peace until he either visits .the. County or starts the

work so long promised. Himself and all olliers who are likely to have influence should be continually reminded of the unfulfilled promises. It is a plan Air Sheehan himself recommends. The District must make itself felt, or it will have poor show against other places, towards which the Ministry arc favorably disposed.