TOPICS OF THE DAY

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 146, 25 June 1902, Page 1

TOPICS OF THE DAY

The ladies and gentlemen to whom is due the credib of arranging the Coronation celebration programme are to bo congratulated on the result of their labors. Their work will enable the people of Blenheim to celebrate the crowning of our Sovereign in a worthy manner. It provides for an impressive observance of the important event, and such a demonstration as will give free and effective expression to the loyalty of the community. The elements at rest, the proceedings on Thursday should be of a most interesting description ; and there should be a gathering of people exceeding in number and joyousness any concourse yet seen in Blenheim. Nor is the interest of the occasion conGned to mere demonstration ; it has the merit of commemorative value, for a lasting monument in the form of a new Literary Institute is to be set up. It is pleasing to be able to say, too, that our celebrations will have a peculiarly distinctive feature in the participation therein of so many Maoris. The native members of the community have come forward with a spirit worthy of the patriotism which their race displayed in volunteering tlteir services for the cause of the King in South Africa, and they have to be thanked for imparting a unique and highly acceptable interest to the locil rejoicings. Everything points to a whole-souled and successful event, to be long remembered in Marlborough annals.

Canterbury has aroused itself from its lethargy aud started a vigorous agitation for the completion of the Wai-para-Cheviot—we wish we could say Christchurch - Picton — railway. The public meeting held at Christchurch on Saturday under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce is editorially described as the most representative and enthusiastic gathering of the kind held there for many years. Our powerful neighbor has not hitherto given the impression that it knows its own strength, and Marlborough will welcome this awakening in connection with a project that has its hearty sympathy. This province should be pleased to co-operate with the agitation which seekb the early extension of the railway to Cheviot because the work means another important link in the main arterial line, and will bring us so much more closely in touch with Christchureh- The two provinces have interests in common in the matter of "raiivv&y. extension and they should join

hands. TheVbs&icle to unity of action is the Canterbury coqfr&t&J** with Westland, and this was made apparentl, in the discussion at Saturday's meeting, the general tone of which, while insisting on the early completion of the line to Cheviot, favored the construction of the Midland railway in preference to the single uiiuded project of finishing the main trunk line of the South I land. The Chairman suggested that the Blenheiul-Starborough section should be left alone for the time being, and the money devoted to the Cheviot end, where there is an unfinished line of little use t to anyone; and another speaker voiced the prevalent ambition in Canterbury when he said that the Midland railway should be completed so as to make Lyttelton the port for Westland and thus build up a magnificent trade.

There were not wanting, however, advocates of the Christchureh-Picton projects. One of these was Mr.Gilbert Anderson, who pointed out that the " North Main Trunk line " would open up magnificent country. That should be regarded as a strong point; the line northwards from Canterbury would pass through a large area of excellent land, and, bearing in mind the fact that the present policy of railway extension is based on the principle of encouraging land settlement, its claims greatly exceed those of the Midland railway. It is far more to the interest of the colony that large tracts of land most suitable for settlement should be opened up than that a trade should be established between Canterbury and Westland. It is a pity that our big neighbor would not see thejf matter in this light. Perhaps a delegate f*oni the Marlborough Railway League would Ibe able to sow some useful seeds of conviction in Christchurch.