Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30,1871. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 200, 30 November 1871, Page 4

Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1871. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

The insertion of the Tokomairiro and Tuapeka Railway in the first schedule of w.rin linos by tho almost unanimous consent of the Legislature, has been the cause of great satisfaction to every person who wishes . well to the district*! more immediately concerned, and to the Province, aiicl, indeed, the Colony at large. ., ,-TJie fact that the line ie one pt'-tjae most important of those at present proposed appears to have jejeen made so evident, and to have been received su «iw'<H f*& an wxMyW' $hat $**■«* 't)Eeesie^ • for* us to say much aliout it ; but there are a few

matters k> which we desire to draw the attention of our readers, in. order, if possible, to stir up agitation with a view to induce the Executive at once to commence the construction of this important public work. It has been shown conclusively that the line is the one above all those proposed most likely to pay ; and it will be perceived by the very able report of the Engi-° neer (Mr. Barr) who made the survey, and which we published in our last. issue, that its cost is but a trifle compared with the advantages which its constructiqn will confer upon the community. It is indeed a very cheap line at £5000 a mile, and we feel safe in asserting that its immediate construction rests almost entirely with ourselves. Let us now consider carefully what are our chances of securing a speedy commencement of this work. To whom are we tq look ? and with what prospect? If we review recent legislation, it will guide us to a truthful solution of the problem. We have not to go further than the Public Revenues Act, 1871, in order to discover that from the Provincial Government we nave nothing to hope for and nothing to gain, for the simple reason that the Act aforesaid deprives provincial governments of all power in the matter. We do not grumble at this, because we are well aware that the gradual demolition of provincial institutions is necessary for the ultimate prosperity of the Colony. The provinces, therefore, are deprived of the power even to maintain existing highways ; those-con-structed, in Otago at all events, are none of the best, and unless the heavy traffic be at once stopped, without efficient maintenance they will soon be irremediably cut up. The south road to the interior goldfields is now tho better of the two lines of communication ; but, given another winter, without maintenance, what will be its condition ? Unless railways be substituted, what are we to look to ? and, we take it, that supposing the General Legislature decided to maintain the existing roads, and to make and maintain the host of others which, in the absence of railways, would have to be constructed, the mone}^ so invested would, as regards cost and interest, be a far greater burden than the efficient construction of railways. The present condition of the Provincial Council of OtagOj financially considered, is sufficient to convince .the most partial observer of the truth of our assertions. Heavily in debt, and that on all sides, with an enormous overdraft at the bank, which the Provincial/ Treasurer is unable to meet, all sorts of outrageous expedients have been resorted tp in order to bolster up the credit „of the Province, as witness the recent unholy sacrifice of land at Moa Flat. And what of it ?' The very land which, if .railways were constructed, would be opened up and settled. upon by a large, industrious population, is to be sacrificed to the capitalist, and the small return afforded is to be given o^er tbr wha.t is colonially but very aptly termed " a dead horse." Further, we affirm that so far as railways on goldfields are concerned, the goldfields have a

claim prior to any other, foi* the simple reason that Government is in debt to the goldfiejds. Thousands upon thousands have been expended iv city improvements, the cash for which has been niched from the pocket of the miner. Instance the maintenance of the Dunedin Hospital at the entire cost of the Government, while- a large proportion of the cost of goldtields hospitals has been demanded from, .the public. Instance the iniquity enacted some years ago by the expenditure of upwards of £20,000 on the almost useless building in . Great King-street, now devoted to hospital purposes, for which it is unfit and ill-situated, but for which no other use could be found. Instance the lavish expenditure upon the Provincial Government buildings, which have been altered," at enormous outlay, just three times ! and now do not satisfactorily answer their purpose — the council hall being absolutely lavish, the RM.'s Court so situated that nothing can be heard within it, and the offices being beyond all reason more elaborate than the Colony can afford or circumstances require. We could multiply examples, but it is needless. All this has been paid for out of revenue, by far the larger portion of which has been drawn from the goldh'elds, and that in two ways : first, by direct taxation, which is heavier upon miners than upon any other class throughout the Colony ; and secondly, by the unfair apportionment of expenditure. Had it not been for agitation, the prospect, which no,w exists, of shortly hearing the sieam-vhisfcle ii^ Law-

rence would not have been attained ; and we may take it as a fact that a j continuance of that agitation j secure for* us the- consummation of our wishes. The Railway Committee, whose labours have been well and, so far, successfully prosecuted, is deserving of thanks for its exertions ; and we trust that its memjjgrs are alive to the fact that their Tuhctions should not now cease, but that, having gained a decided victory, they should follow it up, so ai to secure entire and complete triumph, as the result of the campaign. We would suggest the expediency of the Committee calling a public meeting, in order, as a matter of form, to report its proceedings up to the present time, and to consider the best means of impressing upon the Executive the importance and actual necessity of an immediate commencement being m-ide. Once started, the works would be pushed ahead; but it is easy for a (Government, b} r all sorts of excuses, to delay making a beginning. Mr. Yogei may- be, for all we know, somewhat visionary iv many of his schemes; his financial policy may have a certain amount of recklessness about it ; but sure it is that the Colony is now committed to that policy. ' The money is to be expended, and- it is our duty to aid the Government iv expending it to the best advantage. By persistently urging upon them the claims of the Tuapeka Railway for immediate construction, we shall be doing our duty to ourselves, to the Colony, and to our rulers. It must be evident to most people that the Government is in earnest about this particular line, and if we allow their earnestness to cool for want of spur and impetus, we shall rue it for many a long day to come. We are of opinion that the Railway Committee, by meant, of a public meeting, would-have fresh vigour infused into it, and would at the same time re-arouse public attention — further, such a movement would result in healthy pressure upon the Government, "by proving that in this district the real importance of the proposed great work is understood and appreciated, not only theoretically, but practically. Anothermatter also deserves consideration, if agitation is to be resorted to. The good folk of Tokomairiro are largely interested, commercially, in the formation of this line, — though, of 'course, by no means so much so as we are, — and doubtless they would assist in furthering our views. That Dunedin is interested, and that most vitally, there can be no question, and we know that speedy construction is looked upon with great favour and solicitude by the business inhabitants of that city. So well equipped, we need not fear defeat. If we go the right way to work, and urge our claims properly and well, we predict a speedy commencement of what will, we all believe, be the forerunner of increased and lasting.prosperity. We trust that our suggestions will be immediately acted upon, and that a large and influential meeting will be hold at an early date.