THE EVENING MAIL. SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 328, 12 May 1877, Page 2

THE EVENING MAIL.

SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1877.

V " Words are things, and a drop of ink fall In? upon a thought muy pruduce that which makes thousands tli'iik."

His Worship the Mayor has, we observe by advertisement, called a public meeting fur Wednesday evening, fur the purpose of taking such steps as may be deemed advisable towards promoting the opening up of railway communication between Oamaru and the interior of the Province. That the subject is one of great importance ti this town, no one will deny ; and we therefore hope that the meeting will be attended by as large a number of residents as possible. The establishment of railway communication with tho Kyeburn wou'd be of great advantage to the whole of the surrounding district, inasmuch as it would be the means of opening up a large tract of valuable agricultural land on the Maniatoto Plain. But to the Port of Oamaru the achievement of the object in viow would be of almost incalculable benefit. It would of necessity become the outlet for the whole of the produce of the interior, and the town of Oamaru would be rendered the commercial headquarters for a vast and widely-extended district. This, of course, would mean increased importance to the port and increased revenue to the Harbour Board, by which means the prosecution of the works going on for the improvement of the harbour would receive a great impetus. ]S"ot on!j- would this be the case, but from the fact that there would be greatly increased traffic upon the Breakwater, we might then reasonably expect to see a very appreciable reduction made in the cost of landing goods at this port, for it must be borne in mind that the Board is at present only debarred from making reductions in its tariff owing to the fact that the amount of traffic at present does not warrant its members in doing so. Here, then, is one way in which the opening up of railway communication would materially benefit the whole of the district. In ' addition to this, the fact of the town of 1 Oamaru being made the commercial centre f>r the inland districts, would, of course, ; mean increased prosperity for the place, 1 ind that prosperity would be based upon s i sure and lasting foundation. We need i ■earcely dwell upon the desirability of ( icliieving so great an end, for the import-1 <

ance of the matter must be self-evident to all who give it one moment's consideration. The reasons we have stated should be sufficient to warrant every effort being made to carry out the project which has now been fairly set on foot. That railway communication with the inferior is fast becoming a necessity everyone must admit. Good agricultural land h becoming scarce, and in no part of the Province, we think, could land more suitable for agriculture be found than in tl e part of the country which would be rendered available for the purpose by the construction of the pi'oposed line of railway. With regard to the best route for a railway to Kyeburn there may be some difference of opinion. It is just possible that Dunedin and Palmerston may make a bid for the inland trade, and urge other lines than that proposed from Oamaru. As has been pointed out by the Mount Ida Chronicle, there are three routes by which the railway might be taken. The first of these is from Palmerston to Kyeburn ; the second, from Outram ; and the third, from the terminus of either of the branch lines from Oamaru, at Duntroon or Ngapara. Each and all of these it will, no doubt, be urged can afford special facilities. But when matters come t > be put to the test, we think it will be faind that the line from Oamaru is the best. Tae mileage would be far Lss than any of the others, the Lngth of li.ie to be constructed being only about 23 miles. This, in itsJf may bj urged as a great advantage over the ofchir alternative lints, more especially .as it would aii'urd the further benefit of produce rjaching a seaport town without the necessity of travelling over a considerable distance of additional railway, such as won hi be the \\ ere the line taken from either Palmerston or Outram. Tuen, again, with regard to the country to be traversed, we think it can la shown that the route from Oamaru to Kyeburn will not offer greater engineering difficulties than either of the other proposed routes : indeed, we believe it may fairly be assjrie.l that in this respect the line from this place

would prove easiest of construction. If we add to thesa advantages the fact that a lino from this place—or rather, from the terminus of one of the branch lines already constructed —would be the means of opening up for settlement a larger amount of really excellent land than would be the case with either of the alternative lines, we th'nk the people of Oamaru have very good grounds for urging that preference should be given it. All these things should be brought forcibly under the notica of Parliament, and in order that that may be done, it is necessary that tae people of Oamaru should lose no time in setting to work. That success will attend their efforts if they persevere we have little doubt, more especially as they will be backed up strongly by the residents of Naseby and other inland towns. No time is to be lost in the matter, and we therefore hope that, at the meeting to be held on Wednesday evening, such steins will be taken as will ultimately lead to the achievement of an object which, all must admit, will prove of benefit to the town of Oamaru and the surrounding districts.