The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, FRIDAY, APRIL 18.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 109, 18 April 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, FRIDAY, APRIL 18.

Tire discussion which took place at the last County Council meeting in connection with the proposed railway scheme, taken in conjunction with that of the Borough Council, proved conclusively the force of our assertion that the former body had gone the wrong way to work in order to bring about the desired ends. It is now pretty evident that the matter will have to be gone into de novo, and a new departure taken The first step towards the attainment of the object, undoubtedly lies in a conference of the two bodies. The argument used by some Councillors, that the town is more dependent on the county, than the latter on the former, is neither here nor there, and shows a narrowminded method of reasoning, quite incompatible with the general objects of the scheme, and the sooner the subject is looked upon, and dealt with on a broader and more comprehensive basis, the better for the success of the project and the welfare of the district. Although admitting the justness and soundness of Councillor Gannon’s desire to have a public meeting called to consider the matter, we can hardly see its practical utility or direct necessity, inasmuch as in the event of the two bodies coming together and discussing the matter in conference, and the same being fully reported, ample opportunity would be afforded the public for giving any expression of opinion pro and con through the columns of the Press. Up to the present moment both public bodies have evinced a

tendency to run in a narrow groove of its own. Some councillors evidently wanted a railway without any of the sacrifices attendant upon that luxury, and individual interests and prejudices are allowed, to interfere and obstruct a progressive movement which would prove of incalculable benefit both to town and country alike. The interests of the few must of necessity always give way to the wants of the many, and all that our public men have to consider is how' the latter can be most benefitted at the smallest amount of sacrifice on the part of the former. The railway question is of vital importance to the whole place, and the project should be warmly supported and furthered by all wellwishers to the district; and although many may differ in matters of detail yet we feel assured that no one will, on private grounds, selfishly oppose a scheme which would tend more than any other known measure to speedily open up and develope the latent resources of our splendidly prolific district, —a result, the benefits of which every individual dweller in our midst must, in the natural course of events, participate in. In dealing with this subject the fact must not be lost sight of that whatever concessions are made, they will be irrevocable for the length of term during which the monopoly is granted to the Company, and that we shall be entirely in the hands of the same for a number of years. The matter undoubtedly requires careful and mature consideration, but w r e trust that the commendable, though hitherto somewhat misdirected, zeal, and endeavours of the County Council will shortly be more productive of good results than it has up to the present, and also that they will meet with every encouragement, assistance, and support in endeavouring to bring their scheme to a practical and successful issue.