THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2565, 13 May 1903, Page 22

THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

THE PROPOSED PARLIAMENTARY TRIP. Referring to the proposed trip to Central Otago by Sir J. G. Ward and several Canterbury and some local members of Parliament, the following is a copy of a telegram despatched by Messrs Stronach and Gilkison, ' on behalf of the Otago Central Railway i League, to Sir J. G. Ward: — j " Sir Joseph Ward, Invercargill. i "On behalf of Otago Central Railway Loague, we beg to point out the time allowed for proposed trip is wholly insufficient. Utterly impossible to go head Lako Wakatipu and return and go same day to Pembroke. It would be possible as a physical feat of endurance to carry out the rest of published programme, but utterly useless. Canterbury members desire to see the country to be opened up by railway. This

cannot be done from coach, or by rushing through country, Hawea to Ida Valley, in two days, as proposed. Our railway haa been mucii injured in the past by lightning commissions, and we earnestly request you to see that programme altered, and sufficient time allowed members to personally inspect the lands to be opened up. We suggest thai at least one day should be spent about Wanaka, one day to Tarras and Cromwell, one Earnscleugh and Clyde, one Alexandra and Galloway, including Howden and Moncrieff's garden, one day Ophir and Matakanui, then one day home. Thus six days are required in Central Otago to get even an idea of the resources of the district. To scamper through in two days a la Fowlda is doing great injury and injustice to disj trict. Published programme would land members at Wanaka in the dark, leave again in the dark, and from that darkness they would probably never emerge. "For Central Otago League. " A. Stkonach. "R. Gilkison." Mr H. D. Bedford, M.H.R., has sent a. somewhat similar telegram to Sir J. G. Ward, with a request to extend the time of the tour to enable Canterbury members to see the country that ' will be opened up by the railway. The Minister of Railways forwarded tie : folowing reply to Messrs Stronaeh's and • Gilkison's telegram: — "Your telegram of Sunday evening, reached me on my arrival in Invercargill" this morning. I presume you have done me the courtesy of awaiting receipt of my reply before publishing your communica-. tion. The time that will be occupied in the trip will depend entirely upon the wishes of visiting members. I should have thought that instead of criticising the intended visit of members it would have been of more practical benefit for your league to have suggested a suitable programme beforehand, and in all probability had your league taken the trouble to have arranged a programme for Mr Fowlds upon his visit to the Otago Central, such a suggestion as that contained in your wire would, in his ca?<\ have been unnecessary. Your assumption of arriving at and departing from Vv anaka in the- dark is one of pure imagination, and shows that a little light to yourself would not be out of place. As it is, I am disposed to think ' that the difficulty of properly emerging from tho dark has a more suitable application to yourselves than to the party of members who are visiting the Otago Central. You should at least give us credit for a little common sense. If the members decide to visit the head of Lake Wakatinu i f - will involve starting a day later from Queenstown for the interior, and arriving at Dunedin _ a day later. However, what will be done in this respect cannot be finally settled until I have an opportunity of discussing the matter with the visitors, whose convenience must be considered. — J. G. Wabd." Mr H. D. Bedford, M.H.R., communicated with Sir Joseph Ward on the same matter in the following terms: — "Members of Otago Central League in-, form me it is impossible to gain appreciation of resources of district in such hurried trip as you propose. As it is urgent Canterbury members should obtain adequate idea of district's possibilities, would respectfully urge extension of time, and abandonment of visit to head of Wakatipu." Sir Joseph replied as follows: — "In reply to your telegram, it is not possible to make fixed arrangements yet, as the time of the visiting members must necessarily be considered. When all get together I shall be glad to discuss the whole matter. I have sent a reply to the two gentlemenwho wired me on behalf of the Otago Central League." Messrs Stronach and Gilkison replied in the afternoon to Sir Joseph Ward as fol* lows : — "As time was pressing h.anded our telegram yesterday to Times; will now hand them your telegram. Most anxious to avoid any discourtesy or want of harmony, but have been unable to find who is responsible for arranging programme. We are very pleased that the time to be taken will depend on visiting members. As they are coming long distance to see district to be ppened up, we are most anxious they should have every opportunity of doing district justice. The programme we criticised was published in the Star, and would certainly have involved covering long distances in the dark, the days being now very short. Wo earnestly trust that members will shed the light of their presence at least six day 3, as suggested, on district Pembroke to Dunedin, as, we repeat, the Star published programme could not do district justice. For Otago Central League, — A. Sthoxach. R. Gilkison." The northern members of the party arrived on Monday night by the express, and consisted of Messrs D. Buddo (Kaiapoi), T. E. Taylor and T. H. Davey (Christchurch), G."Lanrenson (Lyttelton), G. WiHy (Riccartonl, and W. Tanner (Avon). Most of theparty put un at the City Hotel, and the others are staying with friends. Mr G. Bissefc accompanies the party as a representative of the Lyttelton Times. Mr John M'Lachlan. member for Ashburton, having been invited, along with other Canterbury members, to inspect the Otaeo Centra!, forwarded this reply to. Sir J. O. Ward: " Rfi visit to Ota«o Central : Years ago I went beyond the ' garden wall.' and recently I went over the lino. lam fully convinced that tho whole project^ is intensely wicked from beginning to end."