THE RAILWAY QUESTION.

Southland Times, Issue 677, 31 May 1867, Page 2

THE RAILWAY QUESTION.

(TO THB EDITOB OE THE SOUTHDAOT) TIMES.) Sib,— -I have attended regularly the meetings of •- the .Proviricial Council, listened to tlie debate on. the important : question of railways, andlmust saythat the course pursued by the squatters in opposing . this -measure ought seriously to induce reflectirig men, having the interest ofthe provirice at heart, to combine and use every endeavor to secure the passing of the resolutions before the Council. Mr Cuthbertson, the. mouthpiece of the squatters, is leaving no stone unturned to ruin the prospects of Southland. He avowedly acknowledges that he does not care one straw for anything that such vulgar people as tradesmen and shopkeepers — those who have made their homeshere, and spendwhat th-^y earnin the province — can desire, nor does he trouble himself with what hardships the industrious settlers may endure, what misery may be their lot, if they are systematically deprived of the means of sending their

produce into, market ■ — which must occur if those railway lines are not formed ; for he well knows that: the Geheral Government wiil give uiyjid land for tho construction of Eoads ;-^but rather than there should be prosperity — rather than see/the land taken from fthe squatters for reproductive works— he would see the Province become a sheepwalk. He would witness the town collapse; he would witness the smiling farms and comfortable homesteads of the settlers become a barren waste, and for what ? in order to keep intact the lands of the Crown for the class he represents — -the squatters. History proves that where civilization spreads, the squatter must recede. Victoria shows a bright example of the determiuation of the people to resist tte selfish policy of the 'squatter*; shall we be behind nand in following their example f I hope not. Indeed it is a : bad recommendation to Mr Cuthbertson's. chance of becoming Superintendent, if he aims at such a position, that he should also aim at becoming the organ of the squatters, and oppose, the construction' of an undertaking of such public utility. If he wants to turn out the Government, let him acknowledge boldly that.he wajits to do so. But let him not by specious arguments try to throw dust in the eyes ofthe members of the Cquncil, : by stating that the reason he opposes the scheme is purely on account of the present Government retaining office, and seeking by these means to prolong unnecessary discussion, thinking that the consideration of the railway question will be thus shelved. j Let him first induce his fellow-squatters to vote; for the railways, and then he caa turn out the Government if he pleases. I trust that, public attention will be fully directed to the present action ofthe squattersf—lairi, *i&c.y " Crriziar.

.-_, yy-. ; ; iAA+.i.A, S ■ ..Ai (TO THB EDITOB _OP THB SOUTHLAND TMBfl.) .... Sib,— -I .understand that Mr. Cuthbertson sent a special messenger up the country at twelve o'clock at night, at the beginning ofthe week, to hunt up all the squatters who did not .put in an appearance at the Council, to oppose the railway question. ' This is the man that pretends he has. the interest of the province at heart, and -who purposes offering himself as a candidate for the next Superintendency. Yours, &c., Obseeveb. .-■ m ■

(TO TEH EDITOB OF THB SOUTHLAHD T0C83.) f^Siß,r-Isit a fact that Mr. Lumsden's vote has been obtained by the squatters t Has he turned? j f-.f-y... '. QITEET.

(TO THB EDITOR OF XHB SOTTTHLIND TIMBS.} r - Sib,— Will' you do me the favor to - inform /me whether Mr Lumsden and Dr Menzies are really representatives of Invercargill or not ? - , . That Dr Menzies, a squatter, should oppose the railway scheme, though he has done so with great tact, contriving to veil his intentions in courteous arid parliamentary language, is. not altogether to be worideredat-^all the squatters have done the same. 'It is their interest to do so. " But that Mr George Lumsden, a resident in the town, and hitherto supposed to be identified with the progess of the province, and who is in no way connected with sheep, unless clock making and wool' have something in common, a feet which perchance the free and independent voters of Invercargill -at the next election will stupidly refuse to see — should make himself so persistent in his frivolous and equivocal opposition to the passirig ofthe railway resolutions, isr.'to me a matter of the most incomprehensible nature. Pray, Mr Editor, ,can you explain -it ? •-'- [We' cannot undertake to answer our ■'correspondent's query, but must leave it to Mr Lumsdeii and his constituents. -ED.--S.-Tr] ---■:"- -._..,-.,-:.-,.: : "