THE GORGE LINE.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 1, Issue 36, 8 October 1886, Page 3

THE GORGE LINE.

The Wairarapa Daily says:—There lias been a somewlial acrimonious controversy lately as to whether the Government are duly diligent in constructing tin* line through the Gorge, and considerable pressure in favor of its speedy accomplishment is being brought to bear on the Public Works department. The late Ministry had a friendly support from Napier and Wellington members, and were accordingly sympathetic with the Gorge line; the present Ministry do not rely on these two districts for any material f support, and are accordingly less T friendly on tin* particular project than * * their predecessors. It is, perhaps, to be regretted that any proposal for railway extension should depend upon parly prejudice*, instead of resting upon a consideration of whether it is in the internals of the colony as a whole. The disturbing element in thia question mi ilic Wellington-Manawatu Company's line. It is not too much to say that the promoters of tin* company have been eminently successful in the economical construction and management of a largo public work, but it does not follow from this that llietr undertaking should prove a financial success. Front the first w p were of the opinion that notwithstanding the lilkt.il concessions made to tin* coin pany by the Government, the West ('oast line could not lu made remunerative. The company lias done all within its potter tc tring tLc under-

taking to a paying point, its affairs have been admirably managed, hot still we fear it in unlikely to pfove a dividend paying concern. If it were to <lo so, it would be as well if future railway construction in this colony were relegated to private enterprise; hut if, on tho contrary, it proves an unprofitable venture, the colony will lie tail),-lit a lesson. As we understand it, tlie Wellington-Manawatu Company depend very much on the opening of a line through the Gorge for their future prospects. The Government certainly ought not to incur a heavy expense on such a work merely to oblige the Wel-lington-Manawatu Railway Company, more especially when the through traffic between Woodville and Wellington will lie transferred from a colonial to a private line. The main consideration, however, is whether a duplicate line of railway is needed between Woodville and Wellington. The supporters of the Gorge line very justly point out that the route via the West Coast is smoother and shorter than that over the Rimutaka, and consequently the transit of passengers and goods would be in favor of the former. This argument, however, does not settle the question. In a eolony like New Zealand we cannot afford alternative routes. As long as the Wairarapa line will carry the traffic from Woodville at a reasonable rate and within a reasonable time it is extravagant in the extreme to supersede it by another that will involve an enormous expenditure which will not be recouped by any saving on freight for the next twenty years. The initial mistake was mode when the Wellington-Mana-watu Company was allowed to construct the West Coast line. It was then pretty clearly understood that tlie chances were against to line paying, that if it did not pay the colony would he obliged to take it over in tlie interests of the Company, and that if it did pay the colony would have to take it over in the public interest. This issue will soon have to be faced, and the Gorge line is an important fvtor in tlie problem. Every thousand pounds spent on this connection will raise tlie price that sooner or later tlie Government will have to pay for the purchase of the Wellington-Mana-watu line. The Gorge line ought not to be made unless the WellingtonManawatu line is purchased, and if the transfer of tlie latter be made tlie colony will lie saddled with duplicate lines between Woodville and Wellington w hich will have to be administered at a loss for many a year to come. In any case the Mastcrtou-Woodville line ought to be completed before a foot of tlie Gorge line is constructed.