The Southland Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1870.

Southland Times, Issue 1308, 16 September 1870, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1870.

Theee is not in the province of Otago an. electoral district better acquainted with the virtues of " wire-pulling " than tbe electoral district of Gabriel's, better known as Tuapeka. Oamaru is good in its way, but Oamaru invariably injures itself by the assumption of a certain hauteur that would damage a more feasible project than the Oamaru dock scheme is ever likely to become. Tuapeka operates upon the Government by a milder form of persuasion, and the fact is notorious that she almost invariably succeeds. The latest device of the bind resorted to by Tuapeka is an attempt to thwart the settled purpose of the Government respecting the construction of the main trunk line of railway. Our readers are aware that the Clutha line has been decided upon, likewise the Invereargill and Mataura line, which simply means that the North-Western route is to be opened up by way of Southland, so as to take advantage of the Bluff Harbor and Winton railways. :That this is the proper route, and* that, in fact it is the only practicable one, Has been demonstrated over and over again. Unfortunately, Tuapeka is not situated upon the direct thoroughfare proposed by these lines, and her " miners and others " are not likely! to gain direct benefit by the money expended upon their construction. Tua peka's own statement, as embodied in the local paper of the Bth instant, is that she ia situated at a diptance of twenty miles, but if these figures were multiplied by two, the product would be nearer the real distance. Following out the arguments based upon its own views of the question, the same authority goes on to say — ; A deputation of Otago members waited upon tbe Colonial Treasurer tbe week before last, urging that power should be taken this session for the construction of the following three lines of railway :— From Winton to Wakatipn, Invercareill to Mataura, and Waitaki to Moeraki. Mr Yogel, in reply to the deputation, stated that the Government werenot in possession of sufficient information to ask authority for the construction of these railways. . They would promise, however, to make surveys and obtain information during the recess. If the Government are true to their word, and after obtaining tbat information, decide upon the immediate construction of these two lines, namely, the one . from Winton to Wataripu, and' the one from Inyercargill to Mataura/we would not be at all surprised to find a project to construct a railway to the top of Mt. Cook next undertaken. Both of these railways would go over waste' and desolate regions compared with the one we are now advocating. Only fancy Otago members urging the Government to construct these line 3in preference to one to Tuapeka. Had the writer stopped here, he would have done well. However tainted his imagination may appear, his moral attributes could not have been impugned. Unfortunately, he goes on to say— " Supposing the present line of road, as near as possible, were adopted, there are !no engineering difficulties of any magnitude to encounter." Now the fact, is that there would be nothing but engineering, difficulties encountered were such a proposal adopted. Tuapeka occupies a basin in the Alpine regions bounded by Mount Stewart, the Bound Hill, the Lammerlaws, and the notorious Blue Mountain range. Steep gradients, rock cuttings, and tunnelings would be the feature of the labor required. In fact, it would take more money to construct a branch to Lawrence alone than it would to complete the "Winton line to the foot of Lake Wakatipu. Then if we look to .the ultimate object of the Tuapeka diversion scheme, viz., the continuation of the line to Queenstown via the Dunstan, we are looking at a project wHick would do all but defy engineering skilL The Molyneux would have to be bridged at least twice, the Clutha junction once, the Kawarau twice, and the Shotover once. Then as for bluff cuttings, their name • would be legion! In fact, the bare whisper of such an undertaking must appear preposterous to any one acquainted with the country. It is simply asking the Government to ' commit itself to a work there is no possibility of completing.