THE OTAGO CENTRAL: CLYDE AND CROMWELL CONSTRUCTION.

Evening Star, Issue 14631, 29 July 1911, Page 6

THE OTAGO CENTRAL: CLYDE AND CROMWELL CONSTRUCTION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —To show you the utter necessity of the early resumption of this work I may point out to tou that, according to the Hon. Mr Millar’s own statement, some 7.000 bushels of grain were grown in the Hawea district alone this last season, a great portion of which was barley, which is in very ranch favor amongst Dunedin brewers. ‘ The shifting of this barley took a moat unconscionable time. All gram such as wheat ard oats, as well as barley, had been sold early in the season, and it was delayed in coming forward to Dunedin, anything from four weeks up to about ten weeks, as there were not sufficient waggons to cope with the traffic. In some cases the grain suffered through this cause and through faulty covering up in the paddocks and rains in transit. As a result the grain was damaged in several cases. Some of it arrived here in a sproiEing condition, and claims were preferred against the farmers. You will see that the farmer in these liackblocks has not only to pay about Is 6d to Is 9d per bushel for railage and cartage, but, has also to put up with having his groin damaged, owing to hie not being able to remove it when ready, and it is exposed to all kinds of weather and floods. It is no wonder that fhe fanners are heart-broken, and that their sons leave the district to look for better conditions in the North Island. A little help from the Government in the shape of a railway would remedy this. It would benefit this part of the Dominion and pul thousands of pounds into the pockets of the farmer, and would assist Dunedin in commerce arid help our harbor, and bring revenue in time to the Government. It would create smiling homes and contented people, instead of complaints and growling from the farmers wherever one meets {hem in the ba-ckblooks. At a meeting held last night in the Town Hall to form the one hundred thousand league, the railway construction came in for a fair share of discussion, and I sincerely trust that the Dunedin people will do everything in their power to help along the claims that this league advocates and wake up from their Rip Van Winkle clumber. Copies of this letter have been for •" aided to Mr Arnold, M.P., and the Hon. Mr Paul. —I am, etc., A. Moiurzsox. July 28.