The Tuapeka Times. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1870. "Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 135, 8 September 1870, Page 4

The Tuapeka Times. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1870. "Measures, not Men."

From the action already taken by the Tuapeka Railway and Water Supply Progress Committee in the way of carrying out the objects entrusted to their care by the influential public meeting held a month ago, we have every reason to believe they have commenced work both in the right direction and in the necessary enthusiastic spirit. The objects sought can only be gained by considerable hard work on the part of the committee, and a willing assistance by the inhabitants of the district, in the shape of liberal subscriptions in money, and by supplying the committee with all the evidence in their possession favourable to the construction of a railway to Lawrence, and the carrying out of an extensive water scheme for our goldfields. The numerous advantages to all the northern goldfields which would result from the establishment of railway communication between Dunedin and Tuapeka are so apparent as to hardly require pointing out, and the difficulties in the construction of such a line of railwa} 7 ", when we consider the amount of money it will require to make an ordinary road for dray traffic, are very small indeed. Supposing the present survey of the southern trunk line is adhered to, a branch line to Lawrence, striking off at Adams Flat, would not exceed a distance of some fifteen or sixteen miles, and supposing the present line of road, as near as possible, were adopted, there are no engineering difficulties of any magnitude to encounter. Once constructed, we are not aware of any district in Otago where a railway would be more reproductive. It would be the great highway to the Dunstan and Queenstown, and would convey supplies to at least twelve thousand of a population, besides offering inducements to that population to settle upon the lands, and affording many facilities for making settlement far more profitable than it has hitherto been in this country. A deputation of Otago members waited upon the Colonial Treasurer the week before last, urging that power should be taken this session for the construction of the following three lines of railway : — from Winton to Wakatipu, Invercargill to Mataura, and Waitaki to Moeraki. Mr. Yogel, in reply to the deputation, stated that the Government were not in possession of sufficient information to ask authority for the construction of these railways. They would promise, however, to make surveys and obtain information during the recess. If the Government are true to their word, and after obtaining that information, decide upon the immediate construction of these two lines, namely, the one from Winton to Watakipu, and the one from Invercargill to Mataura, we would not be at all surprised to find a project to construct a railway to the top of Mt. Cook next undertaken. Both of these railways would go over waste and desolate regions compared with the one we are now advocating. Only fancy Otago members urging the Government to construct these lines in preference to one to Tuapeka. That deputation, whoever it consisted of, can have no excuse whatever for not urging the construction of the Tuapeka line, as the Railway Progress Committee forwarded a telegram to each of the Otago members to remind them of

their duty in regard to this important line of transit. But, we imagine, nay, we have every reason to believe that certain interested members of Parliament — gentlemen who have very considerable personal ends to serve by getting these railways constructed, had a great deal to do with the Otago deputation. It is well known how easy some of these influential members can get their satellites to reflect their wants by advocating anything by deputation or otherwise. We have no desire whatever to place the importance of one district in antagonism |to another, or to argue the construction of a railway in one district to the injury of another; but, looking upon the question of a railway to Tuapeka in its bearing upon nearly every part of the Otago goldfields, we do not hesitate to say that it is one of those works of paramount importance to the general welfare of the province, only equalled by the necessity which exists for a railway to Tokomairiro. And if our Provincial Government have any desire to make the southern trunk line a paying speculation, then it becomes them strongly to recommend to the General Government the necessity for the construction of the Tuapeka line amongst the first which should be commenced. Until that line is constructed, and all the goldfields traffic brought by the Tuapeka route, there is not the slightest hope of the southern trunk line paying its working expenses.