THE OTAGO CENTRAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2268, 19 August 1897, Page 23

THE OTAGO CENTRAL.

(Dunstan Times.)

In thesß days of rapid advances and progress in all modes of gold-mining, and especially in the great dredging industry, the want of expeditious and inexpensive carriage to Central Otago is one that is more seriously felt than ever. The material for every dredgo has to be borne hither in the meantime by waggons, pulled by horses over roads which daily grow worie with the heavy traffic upon them, and to maintain whioh even in the present state (which is far from a desirable one) entails an annual heavy expenditure. The cost of such means of transportation is so heavy that the mining industry is seriously handicapped by it. Now is the time for the Central r&ilway — so long promised — to be pushed on, if the Government are anxious them* selves to obtain good returns and to assist the interior of this province. Every industry and every branch of every business ia Central Otago has recently been greatly advanced by the "boom" in dredging matters, and were the Public Works authorities wise they, too, might share iv the beneficial results oE the present stir in business.. It is undoubtedly a fact that any private person having the opportunities of a Government would have completed the railway long ago. Ib is a shame to every Government concerned that the Central railway is no further advanced than it is.

When the first Dunstan rush brought ifs thousands of diggers to this district, a m&g» - ficent opportunity was offered this country to obtain as permanent settlers many of the flower of all the colonies. Proper inducements, however, were not held out, and the greater number of the first prospectors were allowed tq drift; away.from here. The dredging ii now presenting a similar opportunity to ourselves. When our district is filled with industrious and. pushing men, now is the time for the best inducements to be held out to encourage these meg to settle in the district. Hand in hand with gold-mining the fruit-growing of Central Ottgo should be encouraged, and- every chance should be given to enable our miners here to make homes for themselves, and to work up a useful and lucrative businesi, for which the district is eminently suited. Fruit-growing as a buiineia can never flourish to any extent here until we have the railway ftithiu reasonable reach. The thing then which will most materially assist gold-mining and dredging at present, fruitgrowing, and the early complete settlement of the district is the prompt and rapid completion of the Otago Central Railway. .The railway has never received itc fair share in ths past ; and out of the million loan of last year, it got only a very small al'owance. We trust things will not be allowed to remain thus, and that early and determined efforts will be made to push on the railway. We muat see that there i» no countenance given to any proposal to stop the railway at Ewcburn, but that instead the line be carried on without any further delay. From Bweburn to Ida Valley there is no natural difficulty of any sort, and we shall be much disappointed if the whistle of the engine is not heard at Poolbum within another year. The letter writf»n by Mr Iverien, and appearing in our columns last week, brought out prominently the needs of the settlers of Central Otago. We trust • that all resident! of the district will show a like interest and determination, and will never rest until this district has obtained that to which it is to juttly entitled. 1 ' "■*'>-'•