The Tuapeka Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1869. "Measures not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 94, 27 November 1869, Page 2

The Tuapeka Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1869. "Measures not Men."

Owing to a, disagreement betveen the Superintendent and the Executive, a special meeting of tb.e Provincial Council lias teen cdiled. Mr. Macandrew, in his circular states two questions on whicl the opinions of the Executive and Superintendent have been famd. antagonistic. One of these is the means of providing funds foi the construction of the Southern T iunk Railway; the other is the Hun< reds question. We have repea 2clly urged that the financial positic 1 of the Province does not justify the Railway Scheme ; but, as the subject is likely to receive a full discussion during the special sessi >n of the Council, it may not be oit of place to repeat a few of the more evident objections. Forenost among these is the financial po* tion of the Province, for, although C fcago is undoubtedly much better off :han any of the other provinces in lew Zealand, her revenue shows a y arly deficit. The cause of this is nj b far to geek; the public funds iking lavished upon a number of (v^ergrownand unnecessary departments. Were there any prospect of a ; lore economical system being introdi ced, the advocates of the Clutha Rai way might confidently rely on the fi ture developement of our natural resources ; but, as matters stand, j-hey should, learn wisdom from, the homely adage, and cut their 'coat according to their cloth. Further the up-country and outlying districts, have a claim on every pmny that can be spared for public vorks, as the older districts have ahaady received more than their fair alowance. The sum that can be demoted to such purposes is already bund to be insufficient, and would we fear, be almost", useless if furillerde,ereased by the interest on jome half a million of money. We are perfectly aware of the immense! enefits arising from a railway system, but the example of the South Land lines should prevent our Government from authorizing any scleme where the traffic could not be pr >v.ed sufficient to pay, at least, wor dng expenses. Fortunately a r xejeiit invention enables us to .greatly increase our facilities, of , ut \ 3, tenth part of the expense *re<jx:ired.

by a trunk line. We have from time to time published accounts of [ the exploits of Thompson's Eoad Steam,er, a vehicle which appears admirably adapted for our roads, and which would prove quite sufficient for all the traflftc of Otago for many years to come. These engines only cost about £8000 each, and ten of them would, we rirmly believe, be found adequate for the requirements of the province. It would be a shameful sacrifice of public money to carry out an expensive scheme until so economical and successful au invention had been tried. The Superintendent's scheme for obtaining the funds necessary to construct the line is, we learn, by offering a guarantee to a public company. This was the course adopted by the East India Gvernment but, after several years' experience, it has been found necessary to abandon it. A recent article in the Edinburgh Review, discusses the question at great length, and conclusively shows, that the only true State aid to railways, consists in their construction and working by the State'— a course rendered impossible, as we have mentioned above, by the financial position of the Province. But the railway question sinks into insignificance, compared with the important interests at stake in reference to the proposed Hundreds. Upon the equitable settlement of this matter, may be said to hinge the whole future prosperity of Otago. It is unfortunate that the assembling of the Provincial Council has been so lonjy delayed, and that even now, when it is to assemble, the Hundreds question should only be brought forward as of secondary importance to the railway scheme, The Executive have throughout acted in a feeble and vacillating, manner, causing serious doubts as to their bona fides, in resisting the iniquitous Act, passed during the recent session of the General Assembly. They exhibited a barnaclelike tenacity in clinging to the sweets of office, which certainly did not increase their popularity with the general public. We sincerely trust their motto for the future will be, " Better late than never !" and that they will boldly cany into operation the opinions of the vast majority of their constituents. Indeed, the crisis is so grave, that any Government duly impressed with its high responsibility would seek, hy a dissolution, the encouragement and support of the public. Such a course would conclusively set at rest the question whether the agitation for land has been merely claptrap, or has arisen from the urgent necessities of the community. But whether the Government recommends a dissolution or not, the approaching session of the Council will have much in its power for good or evil. The proceedings will be closely scrutinised by all interested in the welfare of the province, and the votes and expressions of each member carefully treasured up against the day of reckoning, when a general election will enable the public to reward their friends and inflict due punishment on those who may sacrifice the general weal to private interests.