IGNORANCE OR DECEPTION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 372, 3 July 1877, Page 2

IGNORANCE OR DECEPTION.

The Interior Railway struggle is growing hotter and hotter. Mr. Hay has reported on the Strath-Taieri route, and the Dunedin daily papers have actually had the temerity to pit that route against that of the Oamaru-Naseby. Mr. Hay was employed by the Taieri County Council to report upon the Strath-Taieri route, and we presume it would have cost him his position had he dared to give an adverse verdict. This will, of course, account for the very meagre report which the Taieri County Council surveyor lias forwarded to that body. Throughout it deals most loosely with the question. We have no doubt, however, that the servant of the Taieri County Council has carvied out his instructions to the letter. Indeed, we look upon the thing that has been honoured with the name of report as the concentrated essence of humbug. It is a clever composition, however, for whilst it is evidently intended to afford to the world an idea of the super-excellence of the Taieri route, it throws in a bridge or two here, and a few tunnels the all of which are, it should be remembered, very short, with a view of imparting to the document the appearance of disinterestedness. Nevertheless, these brides? and tunnels must be very inexpensive to be included in ths cost, as stated by Mr. Hay, and we are therefore led to suspect that they are Arthurian ; but thevare cheap, even at that. The folio wingTvery definite sentences occur in the report, with many others of the same description : —"no unusual obstacles," "moderately flat," " no heavy giadients would be experienced," " for some distance," " considerable distance," " fairly easy," etc. This is a pretty safe method of giving information, and, we must confess, to our mind, it is as clear as mud. But we have a suspicion that it will be scarcely satisfactory to any but the Taieri County Council, and those who wish as they do. Another little defect we unearthed in I this model report. Mr. Arthur, of Waikouaiti runs notoriety, a gentleman whose word should not for a moment be called into question,—states that the amount of land from Outram to Taieri Lake fit for settlement that would be opened up would be 110,000 acres, and that on the Maniototo Plains, 180,000 acres ; and he adds that the land in the Ida Valley would amount to 180,000 acres. Nobody says that it wouldn't; but what has that to do with the question at issue. The lineabout 26 miles as the crow flies in extent —from Outram to Blair-Taieri would have no more connection with the Ida Valley than the moon. To reach Naseby it would be necessary to traverse another 40 miles or so. We will therefore ask them to leave these 110,000 acres out of their calculation, and, as the line would be almost as foreign to the Maniototo Plains, it would be as well, perhaps, if the 180,000 acres reckoned upon as being opened up by this route were also struck out. This will slightly alter the coidcur d.- roue aspect of this grand Strath-Ta'ei i scheme that has been conjured up as a counterpoising power against Oamaru railway agitation. The two routes stand thus -.—According to Mr. Hay's report, the Strath-Taieri line would traverse 29 miles of country, would open up 110,000 acres of land, and cost, at the least, L 161,000. The Oamaru - Nasety route would traverse 40 miles, would cost in all L297,0C0, and would open up upwards of 400,000 acres of good agricultural country. In addition to this it would tap the centre of a very large and important back country. We have no doubt that son.e day the Taieri route may receive favourable attention at the hands of the country, but the line for the present is undoubtedly that of the Oamaru-Naseby. The daily papers of Dunedin have too soon begun to crow over what to them appeared to be the discomfiture of Oamaru ; and although they have treated ,

us somewhat unkindly, we will not reciprocate, now that we have, from our superior information upon this subject, been able to turn the tables upon them.