THE RAILWAY QUESTION.

Southland Times, Issue 703, 31 July 1867, Page 3

THE RAILWAY QUESTION.

(TO TKE EDITOB OF THE SOUTHLAND TOTES.) Sir, — I attended the meeting of Messrs Eoss and Lumsden last evening, and I mnst say I never was so much surprised in my life at the assurance of one of the gentlemen — Mr Lumsden. He coolly took credit to himself for favoring the ralLvay scheme at the last Council, -when it is a notorious fact that if it had not been for the line of conduct pursued by himself, the railway question would, ere now, have been satisfactorily settled. But no, he was too obstinate. He thought he understood how the question should be decided better than anyone- else, yet, all the while, he was merely the puppet that danced to the tune of the wire-pullers — the squatters. He stated in the Council, that he opposed the railway scheme simply because ihe squatters opposed; it was notorious that he was continually dancing attendance every day upon Messrs Menzies and Cuthbertson, asking them what course he should pursue, and yet he unblushingly affirmed that he duped the squatters ; that he showed them what he was made of, and that they were very frightened at his strength of mind. Such was the tirade of nonsense delivered by Mr Lumsden. Again, he read extracts from the minutes of the Executive Council at a public meeting — a course I venture to predict never before pursued by anyone who became a member of a Government. It was highly improper, indecorous and unseemly. It showed that he did not understand the common principles of conducting public affairs, and it was likewise indelicate. He never, I suppose, thought of obtaining the permission of the Chief Executive Officer of the Province — the Superintendent. The whole of his speech was a simple tirade of abuse against everybody — stigmatising everyone as dishonest, but himself— : George Lumsden. But I will be glad to witness his name last on the poll. It will show that the people of Invercargill will not have a squatter's sycophant to represent them. — Yours, &c, Electob. July 27th, 1867.

The "Southern Cross" (Auckland) i7th July, says : — Mr Peacock, phflosophical-instrument-maker, has now in his shop in Shortland street one of those simple instruments which have come so extensively into use lately at home by the great extension of telegraphy. The majority of our readers must be fuUy aware of the large use made of the electric-wire now by mercantile houses at home. The manufacturer, in his counting-room in the city, communicates with his workshop in the suburbs by electricity ; and, in the large towns, the district poUce- offices send at once to the chief offices reports of robberies, fires, &c. The instrument imported by Mr. Peacock is one of the most used, as it is exceedingly simple, not iable to get out of order, and can be used by any one who knows the alphabet. The electricity is developed by turning a handle, and the words are spelled by touching keys which correspond to letters. The system ib, of course, not so rapid as Morse's and other systems used at home in news despatches, but it is lar better adapted than these for private telegraphy, or for sending messages short distances, Tha wat of thia instxwcent ia abaut £50,