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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5880, 11 July 1890, Page 2

It is more than likely that tho Railway Commissioners have by this time given Mr Goorgo Ellis somo information respecting the profits derived from tho traffic of Woodvillo which will somewhat astonish himTho reasons, at all events, which ho laid before the Napier Chamber of Commerce yesterday iv favor of retaining Woodvillo an the terminal showed that his knowledge on the subject was incomplete. 1" tho nr.sf placo ho pointed out that the change of the terminal breaks a pledge given by the Government when the lands of the U'ood-

villa district were originally offered for sale. It may surprise Mr Ellis to knmv that tho Government never made any suck pledge, and that for a long time Wbodville lauds went begging. It was when tho speculators stepped in that the puffs of aue» lioneers drew pictures of Wood villa's future wiiich turned tho heads of people liable to be deceived iv that way. Secondly,

Mr Ellis refers to the commercial connection between Woodville and Napier, but that argument was smashed to utomsby the hard facts mentioned by Mr F. W. Williams and Mr Robjohns. There is not a truckful of commorco a week between the two places. Thirdly, Mr Ellis complains that the completion of the railway from Woodville to Palrnerston will give a profit to a private railway company. Surely all the time that Woodville has boon clamoring for direct connection with Wellington that little fact ought to have been thought of before. It is only now that the (Jorge contract is completed and the men paid otf that Woodville finds it does not want the railway. The whole argument is too thin. So far as the sectional traffic of the railway is concerned, that which can bo credited to Woodville is the merest trifle. The traffiu really tieuins and ends at Diinevirke, and no argument is likely to have any weight with the Commissioners which does nor. advance proof to the contrary. In the name of common sense, they will* ask, why should an empty train be run seventeen miles beyond where traffic ceases, and be started baok agiim along the same distance? We have no interest one way or tho other to serve in this matter, but wo do think it is the height of folly to try aud bring political influence to bear on a nonpolitical department. The Commissioners have got to mtke the railways pay in addition to serving the public convenience, and they certainly will not be influenced in their decision in reference to the terminal by any of the arguments that have yet been stated in favor of Woodville. The only question with them just now is whether tho terminal shall be at Danovirko or Takapau.