THE SOUTHERN TRUNK RAILWAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1003, 18 February 1871, Page 9

THE SOUTHERN TRUNK RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir— Ever since it was announced that the first portion of thia railway, viz., from Dunedin to Caversham. was about to be commenced, it has been freely stated that it was purely an election dodge, intended lor the double purpose of increasing the popularity of the General Government scheme and of Mr Macandrew. That the latter portion of the charge is not unfounded, is pretty *pparent from the following extract from the Daily Times of September 27th, 1869, tha occasion being Mr Maoandrew'a address to hia constituents at Balnlutha : 11 Mr Jenkinson : Is any progress being made towards the accomplishment of a rail* way between here and Dunedin ?— ( A laugh. ) "Mr Macandrew: , . . lam glad this question hag been put, beoause it is of far more importance than the Hundreds Regulation Act. I had hoped that my tenure of office would have been distinguished by the commencement of the line, and I am is hopei it will be so still. I intend to oast my political life upon the chance, and run thehmrdl of the die upon the subject." | The electors will do well to " put this andl that together" with reference to this matter. — I am, Ac , Literal Scbipta Makbt.

A correspondent informs us that the dfa. trict of Blueakin is Buffering severely throueh the long drought. There has scarcely been any rain during the last five month*, not a tithe of the rain having fallea which has been experienced in Dunedin, and all the old settlers agree in atating that the like never occurred Bince the settlement commenced. Grain growing ia not one of the leading features of the district, but many of th« crops of oereala will not pay expenses, and will produce but little for the cattle daring the coming winter, while many of the latter have aa yet .scarcely recovered from their scanty support during last winter. Th* drought has also proved a serious drawback in other respects. Two out of three of th« flax mills — the proprietors of which have !»• oently incurred heavy expense in ereotiog new _ water wheels and other machinery • flaming, and various improvement*- kav» been unable to work excapfc for an lour or two ooeMioaally; and the third establish, meat, although on the Waitati Stream itwlf $ cannot work oven one maohloe by mist* teWftetriy <» itsftw power, * *