The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1882. OFF THE SCHEDULE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1063, 2 May 1882, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1882. OFF THE SCHEDULE.

T»g Mflsterton and Woodville railway it "on §e.schedule" of lines to be constructed when funds m available, ; but there is a strong probability of it being at 110 distant date "off the , schedule," While it remains " on the , schedule" wo have a reasonable expectation of one of the largest and ' richest grazing districts in the colony, an area which will some day be recognised as "a greater Wairarapa," ' being not only rapidly developed , but • but also linked by steam communication wjtfr Masterton as its trade centre. While it i$ stiJJ'' pji the schedule" we may Jook forward to spp hundreds of thousands of pounds being expep/Jed within tjio couiity on its construction, i a considerable proportion of which will circulate the t<?wns smd vil- , lages of tl),e Wftifflrp., Remaining "on the schedule "is realty t)>e pst material Wairarapa interest to yj>iich all other local considerations should give way. While realising to a large extent the direct and indirect advantages of remaining " on the schedule," we very much fear that wo shall soon be off it. The promoters of the Wellington and West Coast railway are smart men, and it is from them we fear the cloud as yet "no bigger than a man's hand," which will yet overwhelm this district. We have not a word to say against the promoters of what we hayo already declared to be, and which will one day bo fopd by one and all, a rival line—a line vhioh is to run us " off the schedule," In contemplating the action of the directors of the West Coast enterprise our only regret is that they are not citizens of the Waiaarapa andthat we cannot gather from the four corners of this district a set of business men equal to them. In a game of chess or whist on which a considerable stake depends it is a sound ■policy to back the more skilful players, In the gajne which [a about to be played between Wellington and Wairarapa interests, the feam whiph represents the former are % more capable and we say plainly that the chances are against our side. The directors of the West Coast railway will sooner or later,. demand from line which will connect Palmerston with Woodville, The Assembly will decline to go to the expense of a double line to Woodville and Napier, i.e., one via the Wairarapa and another vfa the West Coast, and either the project of the promoters of the West Coast railway must be rejected or the line from Masterton to Wood ville must be struck ''off the schedule' to make room for it, We think our' friends in this district will agree -with us that it is time that public attention was drawn to the critical position in which Wairarapa interests are now placed, We have endeavoured for the past three years to rouse settlers in this district to a sense of the danger with which we have long been threatened,; but with very little success. 'When a late representative of the Wairarapa became a provisional director of the j

rival company ours was the only voice which raised a protest against a course which compromised the interests of the district which gave him its confidence. The time is coming when many voices will be raised against the West Coast railway. As soon as its directors |>lay their next move for a junction with Woodville public attention in this district will awake to the meaning of it, and we shall not be surprised if desperate efforts are not made to lock the stable door after oar iron horse has bolted.