ME. J. C. FIRTH AND THE ALTERNATIVE RAILWAY LINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6424, 20 June 1882, Page 3

ME. J . C. FIRTH AND THE ALTERNATIVE RAILWAY LINE.

i TO THE EDITOB. ■.-••:•.' '. '< 'Slßjrr-Thethanks of the whole community of Auckland, and also o£ the whole West Coast settlers, are due_to__Mr.,,Firth for his letters, which have appeared in" the Hkbald, bearing upon the above subject.' They have directed public attention to the important matter, to stn extent which ■ would be unattainable through any other channel; and I confidently trust that the letters will arouse public attention to a careful and impartial consideration of the great and important questions which they contain. •■ Should the letters result in bringing about this desirable end, I have every reason to believe '■ that no alternative route will be for one moment entertained by the Auckland members; who for once, upon an important "question, appear to have acted with unity and harmony. Mr. Firth recommends those who do not wish the North Island to be left in the lurch a second time, to wire to the representatives to erge an alterimive line upon the Government. Now, Sir, because I do not Wiiut to see' Auckland left *' in the lurch " at this particular time, I have sent to one or two members advocating a strenuous opposition to even a. consideration of an alternative route at this particular juncture, for I am convinced that if they for one moment begin to temporise, or to niiflko any compromise of their purpose to have . the railway constructed along its legitimate course from To Awamutu to its juncture with the Taranaki line, so certain will difficulties, which do not at present exist, be created by a dominant class whose influence with the present Government is all-powerful, and whose interest all lies in the directiou of the alternative route, so disinterestedly sketched out by Mr. Firth. I have narrowly watched the course of events as they apply to native obstructions to public progress, aud I am satisfied, from communications frequently received, that : there is not a single native difficulty in the way of carrying this graiad project of- constructing the railway via Mokau to Tnranaki. Surely, the power which made such successful work in dealing with the Parihaka difficulty could sweep away those minor ones. I believe that to every unprejudiced mind, the speeches of the native members on the question are sufficient evidence of the fact, that no native difficulty exists at the present time; and as a Ministry is exactly what n Parliament makes it, and acts accordingly, especial : oiire should be taken to prevent the authorities allowing native difficulties to be created which do not at present exist. Another phase of the question lies in the impression which prevails that certain favoured individuals are striving to prevent the possibility of the line going through that magnificent territory across the Puniu River until a proper hold is obtained upon the laud. Then the old principle of constructing railways will be repeated under pressure of making them to enhance the value of the lauds, not far the natives, not for the State, but for a few favoured individuals, who have acquired them by means of advantages which are not obtained by the bulk of Her Majesty's subjects. As to whetheror not there are any engineering difficulties in the way is another consideration. From information to hand, I am disposed ' to think there are no . insuperable ones. There is no reflection upon the profession, when I urge the absolute necessity of the appointment of the most disinterested engineers', whose integrity and skill-have been endorsed by public opinion, which constitutes the most, righteous ' tribunal. ; I cannot .help thinking Mr. Firth's letters' singularly illogical j when he becomes an open advocate for the alter-

native route. He said that Auckland and Wellington must be the twe great ports for the Worth Island. Surely this is an additional reason why those ports should be connected by the shortest possible route, especially when it would connect near a country lying between Stoney River and Patea, which will for the next twenty years produce more beef and mutton for export than perhaps the whole of the rest of the North Island, and whence* at present railway rates, they conld be brought to Auckland at 10a or lla per head for cattle, and from Iβ 6d to 2a for sheep, being only about twelve hours' in ■ transit. Over a matter like this, it does not behove us to grow maudlin or sentimental, and justice compels me to say thai if I owned about twenty square miles of country in the direction of n. railway line, for which I beenrae a public advocate, I should not complain if I was charged with being slightly an interested party.—l am, &<>•. . F.Lawbt. Epaom, June 17,1852. .■-■;.•.-