THE THOMSON GORGE ROAD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2561, 6 May 1903, Page 55

THE THOMSON GORGE ROAD.

A REPLY TO MR HERDMAN. At th© meeting of the Otago Central Rail-

* j way League last evening the following letter I j (which explains itself) was read: — ' lam sorry that I shall not be able to attend I the meeting to-night, as no doubt special referI ence will be made to Mr Herdman's remarks about stopping the railway at Lander. In all probability they will have no effect on the b progress of the line, but it is- nevertheless unfortunate that they should have been made at ' this juncture. Lauds; — the place spoken of by ' Mr Herdman — is about six miles from Ophir, ' and the formation, between theae two places is L well forwaid, while most of the station buildings aie already erected at the latter place. Alt this, and the work done beyond Ophir, Mr • Herdiran would like to fee abandoned, unless, indeed, there is a conf jsion of names, and the i terminus picpos:;d by Mr Heidaian is Teally Ophir. Mr Hardnian seems to have suggested that, pos3ib!j, the Hne might" be taken through the Dunslan Barge by tunnel, and. failing this, that the road now in course of construction be hurried on so that the Hawea settlers may havo an outlet to the line as scon as possible. The preposterous nature of the first suggestion may be judged from tlia fact& that (1) such a tunne! wou'd, at the very lenst, he 10 miles long, with severe Rrade3 leading up to it on either side, and (2) that all the most popu'ous part of Vincent County from which the revenue of the hue should be derived would be missed. As to the second suggestion, my views are, I think, pretty well known to members of the league. I look upon the expenditure of public motley on this road as an utter waste. It is impiobable that the Government will be so ill-advised as to themselves take in hand its construction, because tho maintenance (a. cot incolioide'-abie item) will then be thrust upon them, and they must know that any additional traffic for the lailway secured through its means would be infinitesimal. There are leally very few people who believe in the road, and none of these that I know of who are qualified to judgo of its usefulness. The Vincent County Council is willing enough to ask for and spend Government money upon tho work, but not a penny of its own revenue. I do not suppose that the league can do anything more than is being already doue — viz.. to give publicity to the facts, and expose the mipncticabihty and absurdity of Mr Herdman's suggestions. I beli?vp the Government | is scnr.cl oji the question, and will cairy the j work through o<i present li'ies — slowly, it may be, — but not to b'i diverted by any 3ueh fooli3h schemes as this. Wishing jou a. successful meeting, — Yours fa'thfully, L. D. Macgeorge. Tho mooting did not consider it necw»ary to ditcu=s Mr Kerdman's statements i in r»gjw] to teimm.'iting tho railway at I Lander, the Chairman remarking that Mr I Uerdman might well bf> left to the tender mercies of Mr Millar, iiI.H.R., and Mr Bedford, M.H.R. Mr Millar: Ho will have* moro sense when he has represented that district a y&ar or two. [There sc-ems to be «ome confusion in regard to tlie names of Ophir. Lauder, etc. j Ophir (or Blacks) is on the Dunediu side of the Manuhenkia, while the railway works aro being continued to " Lea=k'.s," which is a point on the road between Ophir and Alexandra. This point, it is generally thought in the district, will bo known as Lauder, but tho Government survey maps name it as Manuhenkia township.]

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