The Telephone. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE POVERTY BAY STANDARD. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 262, 16 October 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE POVERTY BAY STANDARD. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16.

The Public Works policy of the New South Wales Government and the loan proposals in connection therewith are somewhat of a gigantic character. The Colonial Treasurer (Mr. Dibbs) on the 26th September last, announced the railway policy of the Government. The proposals, in point of magnitude, were the largest ever submitted to a New South Wales Parliament. The country had, however, arrived at such a state of progress that its prosperous future could only be secured by a bold and comprehensive system of railway construction over the length and breadth of the land. The question of obtaining the necessary funds seemed to be treated by the honorable gentleman as a mere bagatelle. The time had passed, he said, when there was any difficulty in obtaining money to carry on public works. It was only the other day that the news was flashed along the wires that the five and a half million loan for New South Wales had been successfully placed on the Home market. And now the modest proposal is to borrow X'14,658,000. In the case of the late loan raised, that was about the amount tendered. The opening up of the interior of the country is a matter of paramount importance. The construction of railways, in the long run, is found to be really cheaper than making roads. It is proposed to form a network of railways over the whole Colony. About twenty-three different lines are to be constructed, ranging in length from two miles to five hundred and twenty miles. It is estimated where light lines can be constructed the cost per mile will not exceed three thousand pounds. In other cases the approximate cost varies between that sum and ten thousand pounds a mile. The total length of the new lines of railway proposed is a little over two thousand miles. The Colonial Treasurer drew a very pleasing picture of the beneficent results to be derived from the adoption of the scheme submitted to the House. Rich agricultural and pastoral lands, languishing for want of roads and means for getting produce to market would be opened up. The country unblessed with navigable rivers would have the neglect shewn by nature, made up by the art of man. Soil, adapted for growing anything under the sun, would be peopled by thriving and industrious settlers. The credit of New South Wales, he believed at the present time, to stand better than that of any other dependency of the British Crown ; so the question that presented itself was “ how far this credit could be made use of for the development of this great country." Altho’, as may be naturally expected opinions are divided, as to the wisdom of carrying out the bold policy enunciated, there is a strong tendency to approve in the main of the scheme sketched out. The Mayors of many of the important inland towns, on learning the proposals of the Government, called impromptu public meetings, where resolutions were passed congratulating the Stuart Government for

the manner in which they put forth their railway policy which is looked upon as a great national Benefit. The tone of the leading journals is favorable ; and altogether it is considered that the Government has done the right thing. As the commercial depression of the sister Colonies left its mark upon New Zealand, this Colony may rationally look forward to partake of their prosperity.