THE RIMUTAKA RAILWAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3327, 7 January 1898, Page 4

THE RIMUTAKA RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l notice in your columns of this day a contradiction of the sensational stories published by the Wairarapa Daily Times. I myself am a good deal about the station at Cross’ Creek, and can verify the statements of the department, and I think in justice to the officer in charge there such reports should be ascertained to be true before being published. But what can you expect from one of the rankest Conservative journals in the colony ? I am sorry, to see your paper publishing the statements before verifying the same. Many of the being circulated because the Government has entered into competition with the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company. Now, sir, you and others forget the enormous concessions that Company got from the Grey Government—more than enough to pay for the line, and tho Company has not studied the interests of the settlers at all, nor would it meet the public in starting" a fast express service, only the miserable slow service running with goods, the passenger train shunting at every stations But nothing is said about this, but as soon as the Government railways get exceptionally heavy traffic they are hounded down. I think the Minister of Railways has to be commended for the stand he has made in trying to keep tho taxpayers’ money in their own hands instead of sending the money Home to keep a lot of absentees at Home, which tho Manawatu Railway Company is doing, and I believe 75 per cent, of its capital is borrowed money. Why this howl of indignation I cannot imagine. The Government of the day is tho servant of the taxpayers, and as such it has a perfect right to protect our interests in the railway and divert as much traffic as it can. The more traffic the better for the railway revenue; so I hope all this sympathy with the Railway Company will die out, for I think tho Company is especially well treated, and has nothing to complain of.—l am, Ac., R. J. Kells. Cross’ Creek, January sth, 1898.