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Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 40, 28 August 1880, Page 2

The Star SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1880.

A RAILWAY FROM WELLINGTON

TO PORIRUA.

The item, telegraphed to us by the Press Association on Tuesday night, that Mr. Bbandon had introduced a Bill to enable a private company to construct a railway from Wellington to Porirua, has not, we think, as yet, been much thought of by the people of this district, although, as we will be able presently to show, it concerns them to a very great extent. A few years ago, when there was only a bi-weekly coach to Foxton, it was strongly urged that a line of steamers should be placed between Porirua and Foxton, in order that more direct communication might be established, and the Government actually went the length of calling for tenders for such a service. It is well known that there is as safe anchorage in the Porirua harbor as can be found in any port in the colony, and those who know the place will have but little difli. culty in believing that a wharf could be easily and inexpensively constructed. A gentleman drew our attention the other day to a fact that we had not before taken much notice of, namely, that the Manukau, Carlyle, and Porirua were I almost in a direct line on bhe map, and I he pointed out how easily direct communication might be opened up from Carlyle to either of the two places. For some time past, many of the shareholders in the Patea Steam Shipping Company have been seriously considering whether, with the improvements consequent on tbe breakwater, it might not be advisable to build a larger steamer, and put the present vessel on between Carlyle and Porirua, and land cattle there for Wellington, thus avoiding the dangers of the lip at Cape Terawhiti ; the larger steamer being used for merchandise, and in direct ti'ips to some of the West Coast ports in the Middle Island, or to wherever it might be deemed advisable to send her. This is a subject that so directly concerns the farmers, who are .the bulk of this community, that we have thought it our duty to draw attention to it. Every improvement that can b$ made either at Waitara, New Plymouth, or Carlyle, must have more than

a passing interest for us, because improved communication must mean, in the long run, improved prices both for stock and for farm produce. The importance of the proposed line of railway to the people of this district cannot be over-estimated, considering what a very poor chance there is of a through line to Wellington— at least, for many years to come. There is, we understand, a project on foot for increasing the capital ef the Patea Steam Shipping Company, and we feel assured that it will receive all due consideration, from, the people neve who are likely to "benefit "by the success of the undertaking. The number of Hawera names on the books of the Patea Agricultural and Pastoral Association (to which our Carlyle correspondent has drawn attention) is a sufficient proof that no local jealousies will be allowed by the people here to stand in the way of anything that they consider will tend towards the advancement and welfare of the entire district. Our Carlyle friends must act in a similar spirit, if they desire to secure co-operation from this end, and there must be no talk of vested interests.