The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1878.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 74, 31 August 1878, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1878.

The Statement of Public Works made by the Honorable James Macandrew on Tuesday last must have taken the members of the Assembly by surprise. Since the days of Sir Julius Vogel nothing, in our opinion, has emanated from any New Zealand Government at all to be coni pared with it. Comprehensive, dense, yet so plainly stated, is every particular, that even the least intelligent politician cannot but understand it. Doubtless it is the work of more than one head, yet those who know Mr Macandrew can very easily recognise an originality of thought so characteristic of that honorable member who is at present the Minister for Public Works. We will recollect the occasion on which, at a public meeting in Dunedin, this honorable member was presented by his fellow townsmen with a cheque for £ISOO as a mark of respect and gratitude for the services he had done Otago during his long term of office as her Superintendent. This was at the time when the Provinces were abolished, and when Mr Macanusefulness to his fellow settlers was nearly at an end. We can more particularly recall to mind the memorable words uttered by that gentleman in reply to the many expressions of sympathy made use of that evening by his friends. Apparently labouring under a deep impression that he could do little more to help his beloved province and its much attached people he exclaimed, “ Gentlemen, I am literally snuffed out.” Doubtless he spoke as he felt, and many more besides v himself considered that the glory of Otago was eclipsed. But Mr Macandrew is made of metal which has the true ring. Like the old stage coach horses who, on starting, often appear as if they could not travel a hundred yards, but once fairly started and warmed up to their work require a strong brake to keep them safely in hand. We do not think, however, that much as the Minister for Public Works has exhibited something

of the old fire he will need a very strong brake. He has so hedged himself in with conditions that, if adhered to,

there need be little fear of him overrunning the constable. As to the scheme of public works sketched out we are sure his stoutest opponents can only offer a factious opposition. Putting aside our personal opinions of Provincialism or Abolition and looking at the piogranirno tor reproductive public works proposed to be executed during the next five years, we cannot deny that it is just the thing wanted. The existing railways, and those under con struction, can only be made the valuable public institutions which we would all like to see them by an abundant stock of feeders, and this can only bo done by extending the railway system to the far back recesses of the Middle Island, and by extending the same system through the very heart of the country in the North Island, We have long held an opinion that the North Island is the most valuable of the two ;

it only wants railway communication to open up its vast supplies of timber, coal, and other mineral products, while the fertile quality of its large pastoral and agricultural lands will very soon lead to its being rapidly taken up by the hardy husbandman and the persevering indefatigable miner. The amount of land acquired by the Government during the recess, and the activity of the Native Minister, coupled with his great influence with the native race augurs well for the fulfilment of the promises held out in the oration delivered in the Assembly on Tuesday last. By judicious management on the part of those whose duty it is to see these works carried out, by a careful study of the advantages to be gained by beginning those railway lines at the nearest points of connection with the trunk line, and by making each half-dozen of miles contribute its share of revenue from the day it is opened, little loss of interets of money spent will occur, while the earlier that a connection is made with the

interior of the country the more speedily will the land sales be a help to an extension of the lines further on. As regards the contemplated Middle Island interior railways we think the Government have wisely chosen the route that will be most productive of capital from sale of Government land. So far as Canterbury is concerned, that from Oxford to Temuka has been much talked of, but only as if it would be some day. Few, if any, anticipated that it would be In the schedule of public works for the piesent session. The line running near the hills will lead "to land being taken up immediately that must otherwise have lain dormant for years. Coming as it does by Alford and Peel forests it will open up sources for a supply of timber very much needed in the agricultural districts of South Canterbury, J Terminating at Temuka it will also %dp to revive the languid

trade of that township, which we cannot but bo thankful for. Once the Milford Harbour Works are commenced, which we believe only waits Sir John Coode’s final report, the trade of this town and district must expand at a rate hitherto unknown in any part of With a climate not surpassed by any in this island, land that will compare favorably with the most choice spots in New Zealand, a beautiful and perfectly

protected harbour for a whole fleet to He in, and railway communication with north, south, and west, we predict a great future for this part of South Canterbury. The line from Amberley to the West Coast, on the other hand, will stimulate the various industries in North Canterbury to put forth those energies which have helped so largely to make Otago the leading commercial province of the colony. The works chalked out for the Otago province cannot but please that active community, opening up, as it will, a large field tor mining industry. Gold, yet unheard of, will doubtless be discovered. Silver mines, copper mines, slate quarries, coal, limestone, timber, and building stone of the very best quality will readily find its w r ay into the markets of Dunedin, Invercargill, Oamaru, and other centres of population, while a great impetus to trade all over the province must of necessity be the result of this well-digested scheme of the present Government. Otago, whose influence has been felt all over the Colony in its educational achievements, in its commercial importance, in its harbours, and in its shipping, in its mining enterprise, pastoral pursuits, native industries, and manufactures will, as it were, begin a new life of peace and plenty for a much larger population than that which it now possesses. Well may Otago be proud of its Macandrew and its Stout, and other able legislators, who, it is pleasing to think, are capable of burying the past, and going in heart and soul to make New Zealand a true Britain of the South, James Macandrew may congratulate himself that ho is not yet “ snuffed out,” not only from the minds of the people of Otago, but of any. part of New Zealand. The present Ministry, notwithstanding their provincial proclivities, give evidence that New Zealand as a whole still reigns supreme in their hearts. So far as the present session of the Assembly has gone the Ministry have committed few blunders. The Speech at the opening, the Financial Statement, and last but not least, the Statement of Public Works, is a credit to New Zealand law makers. We have said that it is possible a factious opposition may be offered to the proposals of the Government. This opposition will be likely in the first instance to spring from the large land owners and land speculators, who have

for the last year or two been acquiring rapid fortunes without soiling their fingers, or racking their brains with anxiety as to how best obtain a footing in the county. To these land spculators the Public Works Statement must prove a bitter pill. The prices obtained by those who put their lands into the market must have convinced everyone that common tillage of the soil will never warrant small capitalists, who have thus embarked in such speculations, giving such prices as Ll*2, Ll 5, and L2O an acre for land on which they calculate on being able to feed, clothe, and educate their young and large families. To such deserving settlers we would say that the large amount of purely agricultural laird in Canterbury, but more especially in Otago where it is well-known hundreds of thousands of acres of prime agricultural land will be opened up near public markets, must operate most injuriously against land sharks, who live by suck ing the lile blood of a hard working race of Yoemen, that come to our shores with the firm belief that they will be able to make a home for themselves and families. We are glad to see that a change for the better in this respect will now speedily take place. The days of high ] rices for land will now be a thing of the past. For many years to come land will be plentiful, and we deem it a duty to our country readers to warn them not to enter into speculations in land at these high prices any more. Land at Government price will, for several years at least, be had ; land of equal, perhaps much better quality, than that for which LlO to Ll 5 an acre has been paid. We say land speculators will raise a strong opposition. With such we have no sympathy, they have had their clay.