THE WINDSOR LIVINGSTONE RAILWAY.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3971, 3 June 1885, Page 3

THE WINDSOR LIVINGSTONE RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR, — The following telegram from the Minister of Publio Works, as you are aware, became generally known through the columns of the presß last week : "T. Duncan, Eaq., M.H.R. — An tunnel contract now finished, contract will bo advertised as soon ps got ready. — Edwakd RIOUAEDSON." In this connection kindly allow me a few lines oi your valuable space. It is matter of fact that a survey and plans of the contract referred to (the Windsor Livingstone line of railway) were prepared in January, 1884, and the money was voted and tenders called fer the 6rst section (fr ur milea) in February of the same year. S'ibe» quently the Minister of Public Works asked for the sum necessary to complete the whole work which wts also granted, but for some reason or other cannot have been immediately available. Now that a definite start is about to be made with (I suppose) a portion of the line, could not the government arrange to let the first section (four miles) immediately snd give some one a chance of cutting in. This method of pro* cedure would, I fancy, be more beneficial to the distriot than the letting of the whole work in «ne tender. Let me strongly urge upon both members for town and country the necsssity of energetic representation regarding this matter to the government. They both well know what a hard winter we have lately pasted through, the poornefß of the last harvest, ss far as -the laboring cl«bb were concerned, and the miserable pro. spects of work during the winter on which we have just now entered, and which bids fair to outrival its predeceasor — in fact to many, if some employment does not crop up, it means absolute starvation. Mr Duncan, I am sure, will not forget to whom he owei his present position, and

will assiat the laboring olaeeei to bis litmus*. Of Mr His'np, we »re uofc r>y any means aure. He Baemed to imagine when speskinp in the Publio Hall lately, that the people could live on air. At the de•leolHM'ion of the poll, however, he •remed friendly dispo-ed to supporter* and non-supporteis alike, and to oty back his previous utterances to a certain ex» fent. He has now a chance to prove his words. It is to be hoped he will take ad vantage of the opportunity. Aliquis. June 2, 1885.

AN EXPLANATION. TO THE EDITOR. Sir. — From the way in which my utterances were reported at the Blue Ribbon meeting on Monday nighf, it might be inferred that the robbery of the man's money took place in the public house, which I have evety reason to believe was not the case. Never theleis, we cannot get over the stubborn fact that it was the result of drink.

Eyrk Evans.