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Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 217, 6 September 1878, Page 5

The following extraordinary statement appeared in the Daily Times of Monday last : "It is estimated that the Southern railway, from Duuedin to Invercargill, will be completed within about six weeks from the present time" — <hat is, by the 14th of next month. It is impossible that anyone knowing the present position of the contract Balclutha to Clinton would . make any such estimate. It has been well known to every one here for some months past that tho contract referred to will not be completed till next year, and the greatest dissatisfaction has been felt in consequence. The contract time expired on lst July, and therefore during all the bad weather the settlers between here and Clinton should have had the advantages of railway communication for the -removal of their produce, &c. Instead of this, their ordinary roads have .been absolutely destroyed and rendered impassable by the railway works. They are thus completely hemmed in, and in a much worse position than they were before a single road was formed in the district. The unfavourable weather is now pointed to as the cause of the delay with the railway contract, but surely this cannot be listened to at head quarters, seeing that the contract should have been completed before the bad weather commenced. As matters now stand, there seems no help for it ; the contract will not be completed till next year, and in the meantime the settlers, the travelling public, the railway revenue, and the country generally must suffer. There is something inexplicable in this state of matters. We confess we cannot understand it, but we know this, that the public in these parts will narrowly watch the final settlement of this contract between the Government and the contractors, The fullest information and explanation will certainly then be demanded, and we can only, hope that these will prove satisfactory. We need not say the fullest confidence is felt throughout the Clutha that the Government will act righteously in the matter, but in the present case the public have the right and I will demand detailed information.