DELAY IN CONSTRUCTING RAILWAYS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 323, 7 May 1877, Page 4

DELAY IN CONSTRUCTING RAILWAYS.

(From the " Guardian.") Despite the assurances of the Honorable the Commissioner of Customs, it is a admitted by those competent to know, that da* diligence is not being exercised for the completion of the breaks in the main trunk lines of Otago. Every allowance will be made - for the very proper feeling that dictated the keeping of the Waikouaiti section for the benefit of the unemployed, but there cannot be a doubt that even in such circumstances the delay might have been avoided which will inevitably keep that section uncompleted after the other portions of the line might have been prepared to connect the traffic of the Iforth Otago line with Dunedin. The most cursory observer of the progress of that section is struck with the fact that dobbins and wheelbarrows take on it the place of trains and trucks. The reason is easily enough explained. The piecemen are not able to provide the plant requisite for properly pushing on the work, and the Government are nothing loth to overlook the delay seeing that it saves any sudden drain on the Treasury. It is geaerally known, too, that bridging and pile-driving are entirely in arrear, and as the material for these, according to the usage, must be procured from Australia, one might think that it was high time steps were taken with this object in view. As we understand it, no such steps have been taken, nor does any foresight appear to have been manifested to provide for the completion of the work within reasonable time. The whole tiling has been proceeding at the pace familiarly known as the " Government stroke." And if it had been intended to wilfully delay tie work SO as to strike a 1.l >w at the c niiiiiercial position of Dunedin, we question if any other more effective course could be tak: n, without utterly precluding the possibility of throwing dust in the eyt s of the people. The Government may, as stated to tiie deputation, have as many men working there as a contractor would have had. But any contrac'or would have provided proper appliances by which the work might have been pushed forward, or at least would have used something better than dobbins and wheelbarrows.

As for the break on the Southern linp, the excuse given about the "YVliitepeka deviation is as good as any other. The agitation on that subject has long enough ago come to an end, and had it not. there has been sorely time enough elapsed for a decision to have been formed on the subject. The statement so commonly put forward in excuse is simply a blind. It is convenient that railway works should not be hurried forward, because of the drain on the Treasury, and the need of time to wsave the delicate web of finance ; and the Government need have no diffidence in admitting it. But the grievance is that economy should have been made to come in exactly at points so detrimental to the traffic with the central port of Of ago, and In a manner so calculated to divert the course of trade. We shall not say that this was wilfully done ; but we have heard—and we make the statement subject to correction —that the present AgentGeneral, in a speech, pleaded guilty to this soft impeachment against the policy of the Government, and stated that it was intended that as Otago, and Dunedin in particular, had been unduly fostered in the past, this means was taken to give other ports a chance of retrieving their lost position. That the means are fitted for the end is beyond question, and we cordially hope that our commercial men will not be turned aside by palaver from using every legitimate means for pressing the completion of these links in railway communication, the absence of which cannot but entail lasting injury to their commercial interests.