THE RAILWAY QUESTION.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 508, 14 April 1880, Page 3

THE RAILWAY QUESTION.

Sir,—The sophist. who prepared that superb mixture which appeared in last issue under the heading of “ The Railway Question," and signed “ A sincere wellwisher to the town of Carlyle," has appeared in about his true colors at lastHad he only altered his nom de plume a little, and signed “ A sincere Well-wisher to Myself,” the letter would have indeed been a treat; but even as it stands it is pretty good. This “ Well-wisher” is induced to make a statement because be thinks your readers have never had the “reasons pro. and con. fully laid before them.” Well, on reading these remarkable words, I thought the grand mystery was to be revealed at last, for I never had been able to see or hear any reason whatever why an attempt should be made to construct a portion of a railway, and try to build a station on an almost bottomless morass or floating bog situated altogether outside the town boundaries, and in every respect one of the most unlikely places for railway purposes to be found within a radius of miles. And he asks, as a matter of fair-play to those interested , that your readers shall judge impartially. Well, sir, I as a reader have judged impartially, and my conclusion is, that in all that column and a half of closely printed matter there is not one single feasible argument. Why this wild scheme of the Swamp Station should for a moment have been entertained by the engineer or considered by any Government, assuming that Government to be in possession of even the barest facts relating to the case, is more than I can understand. It is, however, refreshing to read of the patriotism of “ Well-wisher,” as shown in his anxiety to instil the grand principles of “ economy and natural convenience.” He is above caringfor business convenience—“ natural” will answer well enough. And is not the “ economy” element beautiful ? It does seem strange that some minds are so “ curiously constituted,” as not to appreciate such sublimity of purpose. “ Well-wisher” thinks he could “demonstrate” that the line of his fancy would cost “ many thousands of pounds” less than if brought on the proper and practicable side. Well, .in all fairness, I think he ought to have done so, after having drawn public attention to so many grand ideas (one of the best being the absurdity about the sand-hill at Carey’s). But for elocpience, note the following—- “ If a wrong place is now chosen, it will not be an error to be forgotten or forgiven, but will be a lasting memorial of incapacity for all time.” I would now only say to Well-wisher to the Town of Carlyle,” do not act so as to incur the wrath of your own dreadful anathema, nor try to “ convince the town against its will, “ for ns regards the railway depend upon it, sir, it will “ hold the same opinion still.” I have the honor to subscribe myself A Sincere Well-wisher to the Swamp. POSTSCRIPT :— Scene —East end of a Bridge. “ Will you walk into my parlor /” Said the spider to the lly. “ Tis the prettiest little parlor That ever you did spy. The way into my parlor Is by McCarthy’s stair ; And I have many curious things To shew you when you're there.” Old Play,