THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14432, 24 July 1907, Page 8

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOa Sir, —I am exceedingly sorry to hear the Government have accepted a tender for Arthur's Pass Tunnel. I think tho Government'should stop it before it is too late. How any rightminded New Zealander could advocate a railway that will not open up country suitable for close settlement, that will not compete with steamer traffio carrying th© only products that part of the country produces, timber and ooal, I cannot understand. To think of tho money wasted on that line already makes me ashamed to own I am a Now Zealander, where there are men in Parliament without honour or love for their country, whore there are few one can look up to with respect. All chaos. Ie it not humiliating? I sincerely hop© and trust that tho Government will give up all idea of completing the Midland Railway and concentrate all their energy and money in completing the South Island Main Trunk line, and take it as far inland as practicable, sav, from Culverden to Waiau, via Whales Back to Kaikoura, which will open un miles of first-class land suitable for closer settlement. It would be simple to construct, no engineering difficulty in the way. Hoping tho Government will get to work right awav, and not us© co-operative labour and "wheelbarrows, but the most modem implements science has. invented.—l am, etc., MARAWERA.