THE INTERIOR RAILWAY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 354, 12 June 1877, Page 4

THE INTERIOR RAILWAY.

(From the "Mount Ida Chronicle.")

The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce is going to Hettle the railway question. The Chamber is to meet. The time is come, and the men are ready. Such work is not to be left to bantlings, such, as sit in the Taieri Council, with all their eyeteeth to cut. We congratulate the Interior. It was scarcely to be hoped that the Chamber would have time for such a small matter. There is so much now io be put right that is altogether wrong that even we ourselves, sanguine of help coming from Dunedin, had almost despaired of it on this occasion. The great battle of the docks is not yet happily adjusted, and for our part we utterly scorn those uncultured minds who see no wise reasons for the creation of docks in Dunedin, even though when created it may be morally certain that there will be nothing to put in the ships so unfortunate to come into those docks except stone ballast from Logan's Point. The thrilling gravity of the dock question, in all its ramiacatitm, as expounded by Messrs. Rattray, Tewsley, Ramsay, Mills, and others : whether there should be one dock of ten acres or two of five; whether the rocky walling should be of stone or mud ; whether the Chairman of the Harbour Board should do what the Board directs him. or, unfettered by such directions, should play a lone hand in another place, using all his influence everywhere; whether the statu in ante quo helium should be attained or not. In the face of such questions, what right had anyone to expect the Chamber of Commercewould consider the Interior railway question. The Taieri Council is in earnest, but it is merely walking blindfold io deception to believe thai; Dunedin is. We do not "believe in Dunedin or iis Ciir.niber of Commerce. The amazing seliis!n:ess of the conduct of many Dunedin citizens during the last few weeks must rob the Chamber of any little influence it might have been supposed by the uninitiated to have, so long as it attempted to do nothing more formidable than to bully "our ain Geordie "of bank parlor memory. It is true Dunedin has hitherto been -he market for the Interior of Otago. It is not true that it is at all to the advantage of the Interior to be dependent upon Dunedin only. The people that are in earnest beyond all others ai - e the peopie of Oamaru. They vote their money ; they give their time. While others talk and clamour for pap from the Government spoon, they act. Oamaru deserves to succeed. We should be ijlad to see a more hearty support given to Oamaru. Oamaru knows well that in opening the Pass it is letting Chris tcburch through, and that if Oamaru Port :'s not able to cope with the irr.de, it will bo diverted at the Waitaki bridge and sent to Aka.oa or LytteHon, without coming near Oamaru at all. The trade w"'l go North rather than South, because, the Sort-hero line being level, the goods trains jSorth run at an advantage over those going Sou-Ji over grades of one in fi>r\v, which the shorter distance to Port Chalmers will not overbalance. The Dunedin merchants coolly propose to bring the produce of the Interior right pr.rst Port Chalmers to Duneoin, where docks are io be constructed at great expense in the mud-flat of the port of Dunedin. The port of Dunedin has to be made. The port of Oamaru is now made, and when large steamers like the Easby can call in to order and load produce for Sydney there is not much more to be desired. The reports and flying surveys to be at once obtained by the Counties and the Government Engineer (Mr. Blair) will, when published, dissipate many errors from the minds of those who are now influencing public opinion. It will be understood that all the projected lines must follow the same course so far as Maniototo is concerned, neither liue curving less or more into the plain than the others. As Rough Ridge must be rounded, and the centre of the agricultural land in ihe plain can only be reached profitably by a short line, there will be no inducement to lengthen the main line by giving it a deep curve into the plain, which, would have the effect of necessitating a branch on both sides. The shorter the main lines can be made the less will be the wear and tear of plant, and the quicker the despatch of goods. The best line for Naseby, St. Bathans, Black's, Clyde, and Cromwell is the Oamaru line. In all good faith we invite our Clyde contemporary to go in with us. The Manuherikia is the working gr.rden of his district. The Teviot line will never be made. In any case, the Oamaru and Outram lines will be made. One or other n;ay be made quicker if Vincent and Vincents Chairman join cordially with Maniototo, Waitaki, and Taieri for the gain of a ommon good. We have no fear but that Dunedin, if left to herself, will regain that commeicial balance of intellect which es present she seems to have lost, and that n e will not lose her trad*? without an effort. Every mile o c rails laid on the Oamaru line will stimulate the laying of two miles on the Outram line. Both lines can, we beheve, be made ; both lines are justified; and, what is" better, boih can be made directly and indirectly to P*7- i