MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12282, 28 August 1905, Page 5

MIDLAND RAILWAY.

-.••.. . —-——♦-- ——. ■.„-.: . ■ . ;■. TO Tins EDITOn OF THE FRESS. Sir, —In Mr John Connai's criticism of the 3lidtand Railway, he objocts to my statement that when the railway was through w© would add somewhere about 25,000 people as customers to Canterbury. . Mr , Connal estimates the population of West-kind at 14,631, which in' itsvlf would bo a considerable acquisition.' ' ■■■.■•'.■•'■ The railway route forms part of the northern boundary of the. Westlond Provincial District. Tho whole of the district north of this boundary will be equally served by the railway, and includes the major portion of- the Grey I County, tho whole of the Inangahua, , and part of Buller Counties; The' j papulation of these latter counties are j included in the .population' leturas ot tlio Nelson Provincial District., {'hough ', in reality forming part of the West I Coast. ' ■ ■ Tlw> figures quoted by Mr Uonnai, therefore, apply only jto tJio country ■ south of tho railway on the West.Ccast.side. It might fairly be assumed that the population to tJie north of the railway, together with Mr Connal's estimate of 11.631. would more than equal tho figures quoted by mc. espsci- ; all} - if we allow for the stimulated influx of population which usually follows the advent cf. the railway or tho natural increase, until such 1 imo aa tho through line, is completed.—Yours, etc., I H. QiJANE. Christchurch, August 26th, 1905.