TUAPEKA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1323, 7 April 1877, Page 6

TUAPEKA.

The opening of our railway has been fixed for Easter Monday, a public holiday. Such a day would cause a large number of Dnnedin people to come up on their own accord, and a large number would visit Dunedin, which would be the means of large returns for the first month. lam informed that we are only to have one train — to leave Dnnedin at 9 a.m. and to return in the evening—preventing anyone desirous of paying their fares from enjoying a holiday, which will be a serious loss in the shape of revenue. The whole affair from beginning to end has been one elaborate muddle, and the last echo from Doaedin beats the lot — Monday ! Why not next Thursday or Saturday ? The contractors have suspended work on the line until after the opening. The engine and carriages could easily come on to Lawrence, in place of remaining idle, as they now do, at Waitahuna, to the annoyance of the travelling public The opening of the line, it is said, has been delayed in deference to the wish of some officials who cannot be present before Monday next. Public convenience must give way to " red tape." And I would ask : Is public money to be squandered to suit the whims of salaried officials? The expenditure of the Public Works loan has been frightfully boogied. We have very little more than half value for money expended. The Clutha line cost over double the estimate, and the Lawrence branch — 22 miles — was to cost £5000 per mile, while up to the present time it has cost over £9000, or nearly doable the original estimate. It does appear absurd to have an opening day on sach an important holiday aa Easter Monday. I presame there will be excursion trains running almost hourly from Dunedin, and to spare a large number of carriages on such a day I think will give the traffic manager some trouble. The ballasting of the whole line w;s finished last Thursday, and we had a trip on Saturday afternoon. The time occupied going down was 25 minutes, and the return trip about 20, and as steady as possible. The returns from our famous Blue Spur are still very satisfactory, and all the batteries are kept fully employed. A man named Mitchell met with aa accident thig

morning in M'Nab and Co. : s claim. While working in the drive a piece ol cement bulged ont and crushed his leg. It is supposed to have broken it. Dr Withers has gone out to see the patient. The result of the harvest in this district is satisfactoiy, and we have been enjoying beautiful weather of late. Barlow's Circus arrived here to-day and opens to-night. Business is improving. We have not a single house to let in Lawrence, and the carpenters are as busy as bees. There are no new cases of scarlatina ; it has been confined to the two cases.