WAIKATO AND THAMES RAILWAY. (From the Evening Star)

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 112, 23 January 1873, Page 2

WAIKATO AND THAMES RAILWAY. (From the Evening Star)

As we ob-crvc from our contemporaries, at tho Thames and in the Waikato, the idea of a mil way conned mg three two places is taken up with very considerable enthusiasm in tho two districts more immediately interested. Representing, as we d<-, the interests of Auckland cit,\, and being presumed to bo unconcerned in anything outside tho limits of own circulation, mc should probably raino our hands m pious horror at such a contemplated waste of public money, and show by irrefragable argument that this city, and tins alone is tho proper entrepot of the trade of the Waiknto, and that the agitators aro running contra to tho decrees of Nature when endeavouring to dnort the Waikato trade to the Tlmmc3. But we cannot. Such a railway, it would bo hypocrisy to deny, will be a blow to Auckland ; nevertheless, we do Kot hesitate to say that, on ever> ground on which railway enterprise can bo advocated, it 11 tho most defensible and tho mott likely to bo speedily recuperative, and calculated to advance the cause of settlement and colonization of all tho contemplated public works of the colony. Not merely does the largo population settled on the goldfleld demand that communication should bo opened between it and an agricultural and producing district, but the irresistible logic of geography fixoi the head of the l'li-th of Thames as tho shipping port for the Waikato ; while the formation of tho intervening country, unless accounts arc crossly exvgeratod, promises taat tho construction of such a line will be of the cheapest to be found in our experience of railway construction in New Zealand We have no doubt that as the agitation matures wo shall find considerable counter— agitation in this city, <vid even ahmdy can we hear the muttered growl of discontent. Self-preservation is the first law of nature, and aclf-iu-torest tingas most of our views of publio policy ; and there can be no doubt that there are many who will be prepared with must cogent reasons to show that the produce of W.ukato should come to this city alone, ami that the formation of a competing lino in opposition, to the Auckland and Mercer railway will bo suicidal to our groat scheme of public works. If' tho Thames and Waikato people think they arc going to have this all their own way without determined and insuliious opposition wo fancy they are very considerably mistaken, and if they are not united and linn, geography ami g«»l«>gy will light for them in vain. At the present timo slll.jul.ll unanimity poivadea the Waikato settlement. How long this will continue 1 cumins to be seen. But if Alexandra w ill no longer envy Haimltou, nor Ngaruawahia vex Cambridge, then may they succeed in obtaining fiomsome one bpot in the Waikoto— itmatteis not whoio-let it be decided by nature not intrigue. —a, public woik that will do more to raise their magnificent district to its ri^Utful yoniUou tlum <uvy other buuu tlu

could bo cmfe.iu.l Wo hive said that this railway Mill be a heavy blow to Yuokhndand m> it will bo ceitam to receive <i stioiiij and Uoicc opposition titnu that Luge cl>iss of p.-op'c who cm sec n> further t'mn the tips of their own n >-l">. As to the ultimate ellect <>l i -uc!i a railway on tlic commerce an 1 welfare of Auek'and cit* , that is another ftllkir It is not " ultimate" advantage- that gene-rally guide mou in Biioh c roumitin.v-., an 1 eon>equentlj such cotisiderations mil not neig'i But those- wiio can look away beyond tho miserablo coiuiderahons of the hour, and ace in the welfare of the province, the most assured welfare of the tit,), should cordially join lnsjiiipathy and co-ope-ration with the people of W.ukato and the Tha.nos, and hope and strive for the construction of one of the most important and valuable lines of railway that this colony is hkoly to> possess When wo compare with such a line and such a district the doleful prospects of railway enterprise in relation to the dreary and desolate shores of the Kaipara— which we arc bound to advocate m the interest -j of the citj', and of the unhappy inhabitants of the Northern districts — it will require a very largo amount of diluted selfishness to raise a protest against the Thames and Waikato Railway. Hut while such protest would be a disgrace to the ina?> that used it, we do not anticipate that any very active and zealous co-operation in the Bchcm& will cmannte from Auckland. It will be enough if a general sensoof shame at the idci of opposition compels our community to sit dumb, while the people of the Thames and the Waikato are woiLnig out their destiny That a railway will be constructed there eventually i^ as sure as the district exists ; but it will redound with very little credit to the bona fides of the colonu.it ion policy if such a project as this is shelved, while the e.ir ii gnen to so many wild in the work ot'railna} extension