TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 142, 19 June 1903, Page 1

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

TnE special pleading from the Premier on behalf of the Midland Railway will have created surprise among the guardians of Mariboroagh's railway interests rather than resentment, for they have always endeavored to avoid provincial jealousy. The surprise is that such a strong plea should be considered necessary in the caae of a work which has of late boon subject to much hostile criticism from inspecting members of Parliament and has been repeatedly summed up as a huge blunder. It is also somewhat strange that the people of Canterbury should require to be informed of the value of the trado that would be opened up with the West Coast, and to be reproached with the apathy they had displayed in regard to the construction of the line. If they cannot see this for themselves, they hardly deserve to have their eyes opened by special process. The probability is that they have their eyes turned to the north, and prefer the completion of the main trunk line—the backbone of the Colony. The fact that the West Coast is being supplied with live stock and general merchandise by Wellington and Wanganui, instead of by Canterbury, is not a sufficient reason why there should j be a departure from tbe national policy of railway construction.! Naturally the West Coast people, as the Premier says, " are anxious" for connection with Canterbury, and their ambition claims sympathy ; but the interests of the Colony as a whole should take precedence of the relations of two provinces. Then, again* the principle so often laid down by the present Government that the iron horse should follow in the track of land settlement is to be borne in mind, and this is served in the highest degree in the case of the Blenheim-Waiparaline. It is not assumed that the impetus given by the Premier to the Midland project weakens the Blenheim-Waipara cause, but the Marl borough Land and Railway League would do no harm by again insisting on the pursuance of the national policy which they have always advocated.

The member for Hurunuihas addressed a communication to the Government urging that justice be done to the Hanmer Springs in the matter of public expenditure. Mr Rutherford asks that certain improvements be carried out on the ground, and makes out a case for better means of access. In the latter connection he says it is proposed to form a company which would inaugurate a motor-car service, provided that the Government would give an assurance that it would not interfere or enter into competition other than by railway, Hanmer, says Mr Rutherford, is to the South Inland what Rotorua is to the North Island ; and as a sanatorium it is probably the best in Australasia. "At Hanmer, situated, as ib is, at an altitude of some 1200 ft, the air is clear, crisp and bracing, and host 3of people in the season, from the cities and plains, whose systems are run down, "visit it from all parts of the South Island. Indeed, many from the North Island j who cannot suffer the relaxing air and evil smells of the j^orth Island Spas, undoubtedly derive much benefit from a visit to Hanmer." While large sums of money have been spent in developing and making attractive the Northern thermal springs and their surroundings, Hanmer has been comparatively neglected. The advertisement of a tourist route through the Marlborough Sounds, Blenheim and Kaikoura would help to popularise the Hanmer Springs.