THE TRANSCONTINENTAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 16034, 14 September 1912, Page 10

THE TRANSCONTINENTAL.

The first sod of tho Australian transcontinental railway will bo turned today by tho Governor-General. Tho ceremony will bo one of more than passing importance, since the big work that tlio Commonwealth has undertaken to complete within the next four or five years will make a radical change in Australian conditions. AA 7 estern Australia will be brought into close touch with tho eastern States for tho first time in the history of the country, and, if the expectations of men who have been over the ground are realised, a chain of settlements will be established across the continent from east to west. Tho next step will be tho construction of the northern transcontinental line, which is to bring Port Darwin into railway communication with tlio southern centres and promote the effective occupation of the Northern Territory. Tlio Federal' Government has shown courage in its plans for the work that is to ho begun to-day. Tho financial burden involved is a very heavy one and there is little prospect of a speedy return on tho investment. Lack of water and drifting sand aro among the engineering problems that have to bo faced. But the line is necessary to tho proper development of Australian nationhood and Mr Fisher and his colleagues have shouldered their responsibility manfully. New Zealand lias a direct interest in tho work, since tho railway will shorten the journey to London by several days. The traveller who proceeds from "Wellington to Sydney by steamer will be able to take train to Perth and then resume the sea voyage, thus avoiding tho passage of the tempestuous Australian Bight and saving much valuable time. Tlio Federal authorities are going to employ day labour for the whole work and this experiment alone would cause its progress to bo watched with close attention. The redemption of tho pledges that have been given will require the construction of about threequarters of a milo a day, so that tho day labour system is going to be put to a severe test.