THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3300, 19 July 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1879.

In yesterday's issue we: briefly referred to the opposition in House of Bepresentatires to the pashms; on of the Thames and Waikato Bail way, pointing out that before the Government decided to construct the line the residents of this district were ready to make it on their own account. We had not then space to go into the question of the great benefit the railway Would confer on the colony in general, and this district in particular, and as many of the southern opposition members whose knowledge of ! this district is absolutely nil, may be disposed to rote blindly, against the prosecution of the railway, simply because they are told tliat it is ta; " base piece of political' jobbery," on the part of Sir Gfeorge Grey's administration, we will rake up the somewhat time-worn, though, notwithstatidirig, reliable arguments that have been used heretofore in support of the Thames land Waikato railway scheme* So far from it being a political job, the 'construction of the railway is only; placing the Thames in a position to receive a small portion of> its share of the loans spont on piiblic works in other; parts of the colony, a "portion of which have hitherto, and will have to be borne by

i tlu- msuk-iits of tliis district. Previous to the accession of i.ho present Ministry to power, so far as we have been able to ascertain, the munificent sum of £79 had been spent on public works in the Thames district. Probably Mr Richardson in asking .the questions in the Plouse the other day re. the railway was ashamed at the treatment thist. district received it his hands when Minister of Public Works, and those his predecessors, and having broken promises with this" constituency " cannot' beSr to 's¥e* houester meu doing justice to the Thames., Whether the railway will be' payable or not* does not seem to enter the thoughts of the Opposition in . attacking this piece jof " jobbery." Many of the arguments uded against the construction of-the line are! so frivilous that; they do hot require one moment's consideration, while' the facts; in favor of its construction seem to be entirely forgotten by those gentlemen,'.' The line:on leaving Grahamstowa passes through thousands qf acres of splendid agricultural land which; only, requires' opening up to induce settlement. Betides that, in tho Ohinemufi liiding' are large blocks of virgin land, the property of .the Government, ;,the! value of which will be enhanced four fold-by the railway, and would, we believe,-pay for the entire cost: of itjS construction. After, leaving Ohinemuri the line would pass through one of; the finest, agricultural districts, in the Colony, of many thousand acres in extent, 'and which is being rapidly taken up and settled on. We believe the line to be one.of the least expensive in its construction iin the Colony, and the cheapest worked, there being neither large rivers nor heavy gradients to be contended against, like many of the Southern politi-, cal jobs perpetrated by the late, adminis* tration, and for which this district, in common with the rest of the Colony,' has,: had to pay. ■"' '; "','' .",',''.'.' ''.".'.. ;• ; "