Cromwell Argus. AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell; Tuesday, May 25, 1880.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XI, Issue 550, 25 May 1880, Page 5

Cromwell Argus. AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell; Tuesday, May 25, 1880.

The perfunctory fashion in which the Royal Commission on Railways treated the Otago Central Line seems to have had the effect of creating a wide-spread feeling that the further progress of the work will be delayed for an indefinite period. The impression exists solely by reason of the apparent hostility of the Commission, as evinced by the manner in which it hurried through the country—manifestly avoiding all who were in a position to afford its members information, and, as a matter of fact, not even traversing the surveyed course of the projected line. General as is the mistrust of the people, and the various up-country representative bodieSj we think the report of the Commissioners—unfavorable as it is almost certain to be—will not have such weight with the Government and the Parliament as is supposed. When the report comes before the House it is sure to be severely criticised, and the assumed knowledge of its framers ridiculed and exposed. To those who fear the worst, it may be consoling to remember that by the very course it adopted with respect to this railway the Commission has materially weakened any report it may have to make, as it is matter of notoriety that the Commissioners cannot speak from personal observation on the subject. Indeed, their mode of procedure amply affirms the fact that the condemnation, or at least negation, of the line was with them a foregone conclusion before they left Queenstown. This being so, it is difficult to imagine that Parliament will attach any great importance to the utterances of the Commission, even were the Government so wanting in honor and public policy as to favor an adverse report. To our mind so absolutely necessary is the immediate and continuous prosecution of the Otago Central line—putting aside altogether the pledges of successive administrations to that end—that the present Government will Beriously jeopardise its position by opposing the progression of the work. Having this faith within us, we are inclined to think that the fear so widely and loudly expressed is not altogether well-grounded, and a little reflection might have saved a lot of talking power, and not a little of the taxpayers' money. Although there can be no lack of confidence in the earnestness of the gentlemen who comprise the deputation setting out from this and Maniototo Counties to interview the Government, we do not think the majority of people have any belief that the delegates' efforts will avail for good if the Cabinet has determined in. an opposite direction. In such case our sole hope lies in the Parliament, and chiefly in the Otago representatives. The Councils of Vincent and Maniototo having come to the conclusion that the Commissioners will report adversely to the line, have also jumped to the conclusionl that the Government will endorse that report—which judgment may prove quite incorrect. It must be remembered that this line is not to be constructed out of loan, but from the proceeds of land already reserved for the purpose. The Government therefore cannot urge as a reason for interrupting the work that finances will not permit it. Keeping this in view adds to our impression that the obstruction so much feared at the hands of the Commissioners may not be so serious as anticipated. The deputation from this and Maniototo Counties to Wellington can in no case do harm. It will at all events indisputably demonstrate that the people of the interior of Otago are not disposed to allow a work upon which so much depends to be shelved on the dictum of three or four men whose proclivities are known to be adverse to its progression. In the matter of an alteration of the land system prevailing on the Goldfields we have greater hopes of success on the part of the delegates. They are fully alive to the necessities of the country in this respect, and can from long experience and close observation impress on the Government a system best fitted for the immediate and prosperous settlement of large areas of land. We need not again go over the various arguments against the deferred payment system of acquiring land on Goldfields —in these columns we have repeatedly urged them, and with equal persistency has the mistake been pointed out to successive Land Ministers, but hitherto without effecting the desired change. Both Vincent and Maniototo Counties have suffered, and are suffering now, from the perversity of Ministers in this matter, and we have strong hope that ouv representatives at Wellington will bring such facts and figures before the Government as will constrain it to abandon the unworkable system of deferred payments in favor of agricultural leases—the advantages of which are patent to all observers.