THE TARANAKI-AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 293, 28 August 1882, Page 3

THE TARANAKI-AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

It ia so seldom, that South Island newspapers have a good word tQ.say in favor of ■ any railway scheme for the North, that we quote the fallowing from the Otngo Witness in full :— • " In the North Isknd it mast be borne in mind that in round figureß there are only 450 miles, pf railway, against 000 miles in the Middle Island; and it may fairly be argued that the unfavorable working results in the North are due to the fragmentary seotions as yet com* pleted, which in no case connect any of the great oentres. When all traffio between Wellington, Wanganui, and Tnranaii on the one hand, and Wellington and Napier on the other hand, is carried on by rail instead of by sea, and when Auckland is conected with Wellington itself and with the two great arms which stretch from it to theweßt and to the north-east, there will undoubtedly be a large through traffio, as well as a. greatlyincreased local traffio, and much better results may fairly be anticipated. This is one of the great justifications for the expenditure of & million on tho North Island trunk line; and another great justification is that it will extend entirely through native districts, which by no other means can be opened up to civilisation. Whether this line goes from Napier or from some point on the Taranaki system, it will connect with Lake Taipo, and thus secure a large tourist traffic. Our regard for the interests of Otngo and the Middle Island should not blind us to these facts, and, taking a large view of the question, it can hardly be denied that the expenditure is justifiable, and in entire accordance with the original plan of the public works policy, which mainly contemplated connecting the large centres at as early a date as possible. ; The progress and prosperity of the North | Island means lessened taxation to the Middle Island, and, vice versa, anything that tends to check the legitimate Erogress of the North only helps to hid a millstone round the necks of Middle Island colonists. . The other links in the North Island main-trunk system are to be supplied by the following expenditure : Between Wellington and Napfer, £360,000 : between Foxton and Taranaki, i 575,000; while the link be- 1 I twden Foxton and Wellington is to be t supplied by a l|ne now under construction ' by a private company. "There is no reason' $o.4gubji. tkat .when these..liuea are com"plateithey will pay from 4 to 5 per cent. 'W their capital cost, while greatly facilitating settlement, ami inter-communica-tion between a number of communities, iboth, European and Native, at present 1 i*6.fitt#s frpm one another. .-. „ Cx .