THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2973, 26 August 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 1878.

We would urge upon ratepayers and other inhabitants of the district interested in seeing Thames connected with other parts of the Colony by means of railway communication the desirability of attending" the meeting convened by the Deputy Mayor to be held at the Theatre Boyal ,this evening, As we have before pointed out,-the object of the meeting is very vaguely set forth in the advertisement calling it, .and for this reason we hope that burgesses and others will make a point of being present, as we do not want to see this community pledged to any course of action that will deprive us:.of the chance—now apparently very near—-pf being connected with the district of Waikafeo by means of a railway. On Saturday—the day most citizens first 'heard ,of this proposed meeting—it was represented.to. be to support tbe Thames and East Coast Trunk Bailway *• in lieu of the guarantee under the Districts Railway Act." We showed that there only existed the barest rumour of any • scheme for a Trunk line to the East Coast. We repeat, that ,no proof has been offered that the Government entertain any such project; and if the promotors cannot produce proof at the meeting to-night-substantial grounds for originating this movement, we hope some one will move, and that a majority will support, a resolution to the effect " That the inhabitants of the Thames Borough and County decline to express any further opinion regarding railway communication with this district until after the intentions Of the Government have been made known in the Public Works Statement." By, taking action now on' a mere lobby or newspaper canard, the Thames Valley Railway Bill may be indefinitely shelved ; and ;we, would strenuously urge upon every citizen having the interests of the district at heart to oppose anything that is likely to do this, Let us bear in mind that no- railway will be satisfactory if it does not connect us with the upper country, and with the main trunk line running from Auckland to the south on the West Coast line. For this we have striven for years, and surely we are not going to abandon the project for a shadow—a project we cannot believe the Government have given a serious thought to; a line which has not appeared on any Public Works map; amongst" proposed railways " for years at least. If the promoters of this meeting possess exclusive,information, they should have published it before. If they do notdo ao to-night, we trust these remarks of ours will have the effect of defeating the evil that may possibly result from what we cannot but call an ill-timed demonstration.