The Daily News, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1903. THE WHANGAMOMONA RAILWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 199, 4 September 1903, Page 2

The Daily News, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1903. THE WHANGAMOMONA RAILWAY.

The most gratifying feature cf tho meeting hi Id at Stratford regarding the Whsngamomona railway lice was l the unanimity displayed by those pie-1 tent at the meeting, and its Representative character. Leading settlors from all parts of the district were therp, and New Plymouth was represented by its chief magistrate and the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, while the (ountry immediately surrounding New Plymouth was represented by tht County Chairman. Mr Newton King was also pieseut, but although he is looked upon as a New Plymouth man, and, judging by the remarks of thharbour improvement opponents, to only consider New Plymouth interests, he is bo largely identified with the Stratford district that it is doubtful whether he has tot greater interests there than at New Plymouth, He has extensive ealeyarr's at Stratford, Toko and Whangamomcna, end ascne of the proprietors of ihe Crown Diiry CompaDy has krga in'eresis thioughout the country east of S(ratford, so that h - can not be treated as an outsider at Sratford end of the district. Another pleasing feature of the meeting was iis determination to go for the railway and nothing but the railway. In this they were right, because of tbe enormous area tbe line will serv.>, as well as bringing the fertile valleys of Whangamomona and Ohura within o few hours, instead of several days, j urney of the Port of New Plymouth! Many people, discussing this question, appear to think that the antlers along the all live alongside the road. As a matter of fac, th s» goirg aloDg the Eist-road ate g > eru ly d s appointed-at the spartei-esi of ti.e risible population. This is caused by the fact that most of the land alone that toad, for the first 40 mile?, is held in large holdings, the bulk of tht settlers living down the side roads. It is extremely pleasing to see that the New Plymouth Ohember ol Commerce heartily endoised tha attitude taken ' up by their Chairman (Mr Bewle>) a' the Strafford meeting, aod we hope I this will not be the last time New ' Plymouth and Stratford will be found I ; working together. As we sa ; d a few ( days ago, uui'ed they can aoampasH ' much. We know there is every dis- ' position on the part of a large section ' t of the Stratford p3ople to work with New Plymou b, but their ad vanes liave > .cot always he n met with the same ' cordiality as on this cceaeisn. Years ago 1 the Stratford Chamber of Commone I recognised the advantages of a good a port at New Plymouth in assisting, r and indeed as a rete-sity in developing I that district, and the people there wi'l, we feel surp, in spite if the sudden t change cf front on the part cf Mr v Dingle on the Harbour Board, give the |° improvement scheme substantial gup-j° port. This assistance must, however (°i be reciprrcited, and it is a question'; C for the Harbour Board to considerl fl whether goods consigned to the Strat-I? ford district should not reo.iye pre- «

fan;!'. i;tl tre...'..mf ■))•■>. This would be a eivaSi'L* a.dv-.utajjjo than a gcuduit, d vcli.'.g aiv 1 !!, -5 that would only op.:iato if a rata vvris lnvied, while tho pre-ffi-.ntinl fci'iii'v/onld be bomfHil in proportion as thci tra''e increased. Mr Htmue! bit the ria.l righ; cu the hvad I'.vhtn ho said "there \»;ts too much l-.-;:tii f. o'ir.g ovoi' afl'ectiog h. jwho'o liistr'ct." if th' 3 whole of iara vuiki, with'it.-] nix. uiumb-js-s m th' L >gisl .tnr2 could agreo on the:-o big questions, tuck an tha Wkangamonuuu diihvay, aud the securing a direct port so that direct trade ould ba eatab-j lithed with tho markets of the world, every settler and tradesman would benefit The doomed for the products of the soil -would increase to an enormous extent, settl»m< nt of now uuacocPsablo l&Lds would rapidly proceed, imports would be cheapened, and double and trebla themselves*, Trade of oveiy di-criptiou would increase by lojps ar.d bsueds, aijd the general pro-peri'y of thi whole of Taranaki be enormously increased.