ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 672, 20 May 1867, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

WE DO NOT IDENTIFY OITBSErrVEa IK ANY WAT WITH THE OPINIONS EXPBESBED BY' OV& COBBESPONDENTS. CONSTRUCTION OF BAIL WATS. (TO THE EDITOB OP THE SOUTHLAND TIME 3.) Sib, — A communication which lately appeared in the columns of your journal, induces me to offer a few remarks upon the important questions that will have to be discussed at the next meeting of the Council. In the first place, I understand that the squatters purpose to oppose granting any more land for the construction of public works, for the following reasons : — First— That the alienation of 150,000 acres of land would materially affect their interests, because no squatter would be certain that the land would: not be taken from his particular run. Secondly — That all the land is required for the extinguishment of the public debt of the Province! . Thirdly — That the blundering in past times on railway matters is sufficient to deter them from again embarking in such works. In the first place, sir, I may say that I think the interests of the whole Province superior to those of a comparative few ; but I contend that really their interests are not sacrificed by the construction of railways, but rather the reverse. For instance, assuming that the quantity of land specified is taken up by contractors to construct railways, is it not likely that he will sell such land at a large discount to the squatters themselves, at a much lower figure than they could purchase from the Crown— in, order to turn the land into cash. Again, the squatters have no security whatever at present that their land may not be taken from them by the first purchaser that offers, and their opposition simply retards the settlement and advancement of the Province without benefiting themselves as I will hereafter demonstrate. On the second point I. will state what I believe" to be an undeniable fact ; that as soon as the loans of the colony are consolidated, and that may be expected to take place during the ensuing session of the General Assembly, the lands of Southland will be taken for security for the debt of Auckland, Taranaki, and those provinces who have no land fund, and the squatters will then be placed in a far worse position, because they will be suddenly deprived of their land, without obtaining a corresponding equivalent, and more than probable their chances of purchasing their runs will then become a financial impossibility? On the third point, I learn with unfeigned satisfaction that the General Government contemplate assuming the control and supervision of the construction of the railways in the event of the Council giving them the necessary authority, and I , am one, sir, that has always considered that Provinces should not manage railways, for the benefit is essentially general, and should be under the management; of the Colonial Government, This, then, I consider, is a step in the right direction. It will be the means of affording superior engineering skill in the construction of lines, and it will give security that they will be constructed efficiently, economically, and durable. In conclusion, sir, I will boldly affirm that if the members of the Council are not true to the interests of the Province, if they allow themselves to be beguiled by those whose interest it is to see the Province become a sheep-walk — if they are divided and split up into sections by contradictory arguments there will never occur another more promising chance to promote the prosperity of the Province. In my remarks as to the policy of the squatters, I do not mean to say that all will oppose the _ railway scheme j on the contrary, I am convinced that the enlightened instincts of a great numberwill see in the advancements of the Province by their construction, a parallel to the rapid development of America, and that in the prosperity of the Pro* vihce lies their prosperity, ' ; I am, sir, Your moat obedient servant, .