THE Marlborough Express. SATURDAY, NOV. 23, 1878. AT LAST!

Marlborough Express, Volume XIII, Issue 1081, 23 November 1878, Page 5

THE Marlborough Express.

SATURDAY, NOV. 23, 1878. AT LAST !

" Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all other liberties — Milton.

We have great pleasure m informing our readers that, at length, the plans and specifications of the Picton and Blenheim Railway Extension are completed, and last evening we received a telegram stating that the customary notices m connection with the undertaking will be issued, and tenders for the construction of the work called for early next week. Of course those who have so long been sneering at our faith m the good intentions of the present Government will fail to feel that gratification which we, m common with the majority of the People, experience at the approximate fruition of our hopes and endeavours. After being'so long buoyed up by the promises — repeated annually —of the Atkinson Ministry, it was not to be wondered at that the inhabitants of this much neglected district at length almost lost heart. Just as things *were come to this pass, Sir George Grey came here, saw the disgraceful state m which we were left, and to the great dissatisfaction of some persons who declined to receive him and explain the requirements of the locality, promised an amelioration of what was really a deplorable state of thing 3, a view which everyone who travels on the Railway will coincide with. Since then a continual series of circumstances has occurred to prevent the progress of the work, the last cause of delay since Parliament was prorogued, and the ways and means provided, being the floods m Otago, which necessitated the attention and presence of Mr Blair, the Engineer-in-chief for this Island. At last, however, those who lost faith will- have to confess that it is to Sir George Grey's Government we are indebted for getting a railway that is of any value, and we confidently believe that had there been a united effort instead of one party working against the other, the line might have been continued to the Awatere while they were about it.