Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9021, 6 April 1888, Page 4

The subject matter of the interview to be held this afternoon between the Chamber of Commerce and the Minister of Public Works is one in which the interests of Auckland city and provincial district are very closely bound up. The valuelessness of the Central Railway route for many a long year to come, is a fact that commends itself to the conviction of every man in the colony unless those that are blinded by unreasoning selfishness; and wi. may regard that project, at all events, as having its doom sealed by necessity; while the Taranaki connection, if it is within the compass of the powers ot the colony at the present time, should be pressed for earnestly by every one . that has the interests of Auckland and Taranaki, if not the general welfare of the colony itself, a* heart. On that subject no words are needed to impress the matter on tho mind of any one in Auckland. But i* would be m the highest degree desirable if, in connection with the subjeot of this connection, attention ak'o given to the scheme proposed for planting a military settlement. In the land? on the line of route between Waikato and Taranakij or at least within easy reach of it, is the place where such settlements should be placed; anol when we consider the capital whicb such settlement would bring, when we consider the annual subsidy to thj district in the pensions that woald be paid by the Imperial Government,, we can hardly conceive of anything that would more certainly stamp this railway extension scheme with success:

than connecting, almost as part and parcel of it, such a settlement of retired soldiers as is now being agitated in England and India. The locality, the soil, the circumstances in every way are favourable, and we would very strenuously urge that the opportunity should be taken of connecting these two projects, both of which would act and react on one another, to'the assured success of both, and to the very great advantage of this city and district.