SIR JAMES FERGUSSON ON RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Southland Times, Issue 1136, 5 April 1869, Page 3

SIR JAMES FERGUSSON ON RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

- I At the dinner given on. the opening ot d the Strathalbyn Tramway, on the 24th t ultimo, the Governor of South Australia I (as reported in the ' Register') in re- ; sponding to the to?st of his health, in the F course of his speech, said, " I must con- , gratulate my countrymen here on having '. got possession of so useful a line of rail- , way as that to Port Victor. Either the ■ Scotch population of Strathalbyn must be , on extremely good terms with their neighbors, or they must have the advantage of very efficient members, for I think they have achieved a great success in having, at the expense of the whole colony, obtained so excellent a line to the seaboard. I say they must have had very efficient representatives, for I cannot help thinking that had I in the House of Commons proposed a railway for some valley in Ayrshire, none of the cost of which should fall upon the people oi the locality, I should have been met with one of those shouts of derision and disgust with which, I am sorry to say, it is too much the practice to meet demands coming from Scotland. But, however, gentlemen, we may joke about what we have got. Had I come here a year ago, I would have been far too wide awake to make these remarks. (Cheers, and laugh* ter.) But now, gentlemen, having got the railway, it is not it. the power of all the English and Irish in the country to take it away from you. (Laughter.) But may I be allowed to say that a more capital piece of work it has never been my fortune to see. I have taken a great interest in railways in the old country. I look upon them as the greatest instrument towards the improvement and progress of a country, and so great an interest hare I felt in them that for years I have been a Director of large lines, and I am bound to say — and am glad to say it to the honour of those who are responsible for the line, that it does credit to them. I Am satisfied that it will prove, by the. excellence of its workmanship, a durable line. I only hope that it may be made such good use of by the people that very soon you will get rid of those horses which drew us so well to day, and have the steam-horse to take trucks of corn and numerous passengers to Port Victor, I believe you will find that the cheapest conveyance after all. (Hear.) Well, gentlemen, it is expressing a hope somewhat trite, but one which ought to be felt by every individual having the good of the country at heart, that such railways, made a little cheaper — although this on the whole is a cheap one — may be carried through the length and breadth lof the colony. I am convinced nothing would more tend not only to promote your prosperity, but to preserve it by enabling you to obtain easy access to the markets of the world, than a cheap and ready communication within the coast. But it must be patent that in a wide district like this, which I regret to see so thinly populated, the construction of railways must be a serious drain on the resources of the colony. I do not know that I am wise in. expressing such an opinion, but it must be obvious to all that the best test for those who require railways most is their readiness to contribute towards the cost of construction. I believe it would be a great saving if each district wanting a railway had to pay a fixed sum towards its construction, and I believe Parliament would then be much more ready to contribute its quota if the inhabitants would put their hands in their pocket, and do something towards it themselves. But, gentlemen, looking at the enterprise which has guided you so far, and the large sums expended on your public works — for they are large sums — I j cannot hely thinking that by looking a little further forward the colony would have been a greater gainer. I suspect that in days of prosperity it has been too much inclined to spend freely, and when reverses arrived it has not had the money that was sorely needed for improvements. Looking back at the history of this colony, there haß been much expended already which we might wish recalled, and which, if recalled, would be available for works of public usefulness. I have heard enough and read enough to see that if your resources were properly husbanded, if the guardians of the public funds were careful enough to have them properly expended, you would hava money to provide for works calculated to advance your future prosperity and promote the development of the great resources of the province. But unless this is done, there will be much to cripple your industry for years, to retard your progress, and to keep labour from your shores. I hope that you will be wisely guided. Your Ministers at present, I know, and I believe it has been so also with past Ministers, are seriously regardful for the inte tests of the colony. I have heard it said that amongst South Australian public men there is more patriotism and less party spirit than in any other province ; and if this is so, it patriotism prove the guiding principle of your public men for the future, and if those who represent the people have more of the public advancement at heart, and a little less of petty advancement of the day — this will redound to their credit and their names will be handed down from generation to generation with a higher honor and a prouder fame than can result from any momentary popularity, or short-lived exercise of power. (Cheers.)"