The Daily News. MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 10. THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81844, 10 September 1906, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 10. THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

Ok the many urgent public needs of the province, one of the most urgent is the construction of a railway line to connect Opunakc and the lvavilysettled, highly-rated country intervening, wiih the main railway system. Its absolute urgency is admitted on all sides, as the whole province bears witness. Unfortunately, the terminal point of this proposed lline is | much coveted by the rival towns of Hawera, Eltham, and Stratford. AH sorts of arguments have been ad vanccd by the various contestants in support of their respective claims, not the least loudly acclaimed of which has been that if the junction is not made north of tho reserved route terminus near Eltham, all shipping trade to and from the branch railway wi'l be transacted via Patea, to New Plymouth's disadvantage. # * * t5-

A MONTH ago we dealt with this question, and pointed out, in rep'y to strictures passed at Opunake", that New Plymouth was not responsible for tile statements of its alleged partisanship for any one route. We also stated that this town was keenly alive to the necessity for the con struction of the line, but at the same time, secure in the knowledge that our harbour would soon be accommodating deep sea ships, ;our public men were wise enough to recognise that all trade must within a very few years pass through New Plymouth, and that it mattered little where the terminus of the Opunake lino were made. "Meantime," we urged, "Taranaki should present a united front in urging- the Govern ment to commence the too-long- de laved work, leaving the question of route to be settled by the Govern ment. ' It is theiefore a matter of satisfaction to us to find our views supported by the Chairman of ,the Harbour Board (Mr J. B. Connett) and endorsed by the New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce. Speaking at a meeting of the Chamber on Friday night vegardog- harbour matters, Air Connett said: ''The junction of the Opunake railway to Nev, Plym )uth, for when the harbour woiks were finished and direct steamers visited the pen, the trade of the who e of Taranaki would be drawn here." » * * *

As we previously urged, that is the proper view to take, and one lli.it will tlie 1110:e quckly break down tin prejudice* of S uthern Taranaki setters against the New Plymouth liar-*' hour, for the construction of which they are rated. There is not the slightest necessity for the raising of the port question in connection with the railway, principally fur ihis rea s n : that the day is not far distant when I'atea, instead of being a feeder for Wellington, will be fu'fiiling that purpose to the big liners' final port of call—New Plymouth. To return to tie 1 railway, every endeavour has to be made this session to secure a vote for tie commencement cf the

work. Matters have progressed se far that the Minister has premised to receive a deputation on tlie question on the 1,-til inst. That deputation can, and we hope will be made the strongest, most influential, and most determined 1 hat ever demanded jus tiee from a Government. Juil at the present moment we confess ti. fee.ing- suircwliat pes-inv'st.c regard ing the frui s of the mission, s.Vly Iji-C'iu-e so lar ;-s can re... the depii tation may net be found speaking

"as wit'l cue voice." Cll,nihility is es sep'iai', and unless the deputation is Uhaiiimous i|j its demands, it as well" stop at homo. Every member cf the deputation, everv interest involved, indeed, recognises ■ his fact quite as uo.l as we do. That being so, let every town sink the terminus bickerings and unite in a united demand for the construction of the Opunake railway. Let the deputation give the Minister and tlie Government no ground ;o quibble or equivocate regarding the question ot junction. The matter has be (, n so long under consideration that llii Government, through its officers and tlie personal inspection by Ministers must be quite as conversant with the pi os and cons ol the agitation as the respective aspirants and, that being so, should be qualified to decide the route in the best interests of all con corned.

At a public meeting, held a t Stratford lust v.i'ojv to consider the ques tion, it was resolved to temporarily sink the question of difference regarding routes and to urge the Go vernnjent to immediately commence the construction of the line from the Optfiiake end, and to revive the terminus question when the point of divergence had bc«n reached. That resolve was generous, and probably weil meant, but, mildly put, it was somewhat ludicrous. Fancy requesting the Government to tyjgin ;i railway line at a jrant 25 miles distant ft on) its "commencement,'' so to speak; to cait failway materia! over roads which it was to re lieve; roads, moreover, 011 which the llauera County Council is considering a proposal to spend s'ime /jo.ouo to ,£40,000 to put in order. Had the (Jovcriiment propounded such an unbusinesslike proposition it would hav been said ji» l>i- qualifying for Pc.rirua, or for a diploma as champion wild cat jobber. We can hardly brin>r ourselves to believe that the Stratford meeting fully considered the resolution; rather it sei'ms to us that the proposal was sudd'-nljyi sprung on the meeting, and, at first sight, as it appeared to clear the atmosphere, afjd offer some sort of basis for agreement, was all too .tastily accepted. It is not likely, unfortunately, that the Stratford resolution will be endorsed by public bodies throughout the province, and air'ad}' t'le New Plymouth Chamber of C'jim-e'ree has it short -h i; 11. Tie 1 l.'h;oiii)i-i. how< ver, is kii'lily aiivr to the liigency of hav ing the railway mad''. and litis taken steps ii 1 culjite a petition "utging die nece-Mty f<>i the (nnsti uc ih'n of a railway connecting Opunake With the present railway system, and urging on tlie Government to commence it at th<' earliest possible date."'

Till; attitude of the Chamber is per fcctly delincd, and W believe is in accord with the expressed views of the ureat majority of those mo-t. vjia'ly interest! d. Tlie rail way is waited, noi for llawra, Kltlinm, or .Sijaiford, jn;t to meet the i(quireinenis of one of tlie riehest. niosi tliirk'y rctliid, but poorly road eel and heavi.'y rated districts in the r■ 11 <>ny. and it is the interests of the O'Ointrv and nnt any of the abovementioned towns, or even New I'ly in'tub or P.ilea, that shou'd be consider* d. 'I I,route that best serves the eonn'ry t h(* railway is ilie route that will best pay tile provime and tlie colony. We believe every one uf the towns interested is of a like of/in and \\> x are hopeful lh.it the Stratford resolution, and other controversial ones passed by rival towns wi'l not hi- piessrd, but that all wiil unit** in th'* (.*«>- wnmetu i'/ umMru't th' 1 railway. It i hin is in it done, tlen tfood bye to all hope nf hav m.u' tln* work author-1 iscti this year. With a yiew to ar rantfin.u' for il-.c unanimity so essential, w would ilia! a n>eei in« of ail deV>;at<';? ljt* held al (ine nf ihe inland towns, say about Thursday, or, if that is found inithat arrangements be made fur aV delegates to proceed to Wellington by th l ' same train, in order that the matter might be thoroughly discussed and a course of action ai> reed upon before the case is laid befoie the Government.