The Southland Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1872.

Southland Times, Issue 1639, 27 September 1872, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1872.

"Whew the Winton-rKingston line was plaead on the first schedule of the Public Works and Immigration Act, many persona eeem to hare come to the conclusion thet ita conotruction would follow as a matter of course, and that its ultimate completion, after that formality had been complied with, was only a question of time. It is quite possible that if no limit is fixed to the time, this idea may be perfectly correct, and that the railway will ultimately be made. If we are content to wait, patiently until the G-overn-mpst: »cc it rieht to proceed with its construction, there can be very little doubt that the merits of the line, which have been bo far acknowledged by the Legislature that it has been permitted to take rank as a main Vl^e, though not part of the grand trunk road which is to pass some day through the entire length of the island, will ultimately command attention, and that it will be made, if by that time there is any money left to make it. When this desirable conclusion is arrived at, it will no doubt be found that the line is of great benefit to the district through which it passes, and particularly to Invercargill and the Bluff, as the natural and practically the only outlet for the traffic it will create. That is a proposition so self-evident as to require no argument to prove it, and one would imagine that the portion of the community directly interested in the matter must by this time be pretty well aware of its truth. If they do not understand it, there can be no question that other people do, particularly the promoters of the rival railway lines, by which it is proposed to connect the same terminus — Kingston — with Dunediu direct. When, then, are we likely to have this railway made ? One would think that this was a question of some importance, and that by this time people would be taking some interest in ascertaining the nature of the probable reply. Fortunately for those who have any curiosity on the subject, the question is by no means a difficult one to answer, if we are content, to go on as we have been doing for the past two years, that is to say, patiently awaiting the convenience of the Government. It will be made just as soon as, and no sooner than, the time when the Government shall have succeeded in satisfying all the other districts that have claims to urge — a somewhat distant date, no doubt. There is nothing like patience, however, and if we only wait long enough, perhaps that time will come. In the meantime we may enjoy the pleasure of reading the name of the Win tonKingston line on ihe first schedule of the Act, which ia of couroe highly satisfactory, if not very profitable. The inhabitants of the Tuapeka district, being probably lesa endowed with the paiseworthy qualities of patience and long-suffering than the inhabitants of Southland, went to work in another fashion. They too want a railwiiy, having made up their minds no doubt that it would be for their good to have one, whether it would be for the good of the Colony at large to make it, or not. Accordingly a public agitation was begun and kept up on the subject, a committee was appointed to watch over the matter, and keep it before the Ministry. Funds were even collected to send up two delegates to Wellington, to forward their views by personal exertions at headquarters. What has been the result? A telegram was received by the railway committee at Tuapeka the other day, from Mr J. 0. Beown, M.H.K., to the effect that the Ministry are pledged to commence the construction of the Tuapeka line this summer. It is quite possible, of course, that Mr Bkown may have arrived at this conclusion somewhat hastily, and that the " pledge" may not, on enquiry, turn out to be so satisfactory aa he evidently assumes it to be. But whether this be so or not, it is at least evident that the construction of this line has been urged upon the Ministry, and that they have found it necessary to say something on the subject. It may even be permissible to suppose that during the recent want-of-confidence debate, arguments in favor of the scheme, judiciously brought forward by a member of the House, would have a peculiar interest for Mr Stafford, and that Mr Beowx did not see it right to omit such an opportunity of serving hia constituents. And we may rest assured that the advantages thus obtained will not be lost sight of, but that no trouble or exertion will be spared by those interested until the Tuapeka line becomes an accomplished fact. Now the Tuapeka railway is not a main line, it runs through a very difficult country, and it opens up no great area of territory available for settlement. The engineer's reports as to its probable cost, show that ib will not be made for less than £5,000 a mile. The Winton-Kingston railway, on the other hand, is a main line, it passes through very easy country, it opens up an immense area of excelleut land before it reaches the Lake, it gives the whole of the Lake district an easy access to the port, and the estimated cost per mile is less than one-half of that of the other — Mr Blur's estimate being £2,160 per mile. Why then do we hear nothing about it ? Simply because no steps have been taken to press it on the notice of the Government. For that and for no other reason. And bo it will continue t j be, so long as the people most concerned are content to let matters take their course. The question may be asked, What have our representatives been doing all this time ? We are glad to (

be able to announce that at length they have seen fit to brinu; the subject under the notice of the Government, and their representations, it is understood, are to be favorably considered. This of course ia very satisfactory, so far as it goes, but it ia none the less necessary that their action should be supported by a decided expression of opinion on the part of the community. To rest content with the promise of "favorable consideration" which the Ministry have been graciously pleased to vouchsafe us, would simply be to perpetuate the mistake which has all along been committed. The time has certainly arrived when the matter should be taken up in earnest by those whom it concerns most, and the pressure of public opinion brought to bear upon the Ministry. A systematic and persevering agitation ought to be commenced without delay, and continued until the object sought for is accomplished. Let no one imagine that the intrinsic merits of the scheme, however great they may be, will have much weight with the Ministry, unless they are backed by the energetic and persevering action of the electors. Tbo obstacles with which we have to contend are not merely the vis inertia of the Government, and their natural reluctance to undertake anything of the sort which they can postpone, but in addition to these difficulties we havß the indifference, perhaps even the positive hostility, of other districts of the Province, to overcome. The Winton-Kingston line may be, as we believe it is, one of the very best in the Colony, but it benefits Invercargill and the Lake district only, and not Dunedin, and it is from the exertions of the inhabitants of taeae localities that we must hope for its completion. No time ought to be lost ; much may even be done during the few remiiaing weeks of the present session.