THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 35

THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

jWhex Mr Seddon in. the course of his address to the mass of people who Assembled at the opening of the Omakaxi section of the Otago Central railway spoke in convincing tercns of Ms desire to see the line pushed forward with all possible speed, and of his belief in, the future prosperity of the district traversed by it, we did him the justice of believing that he spoke with sincere and earnest conviction. Nor have we altered our opinion, - and we think the time has come to ask him, as the Premier of the colony and the head of the Cabinet, to see that the belief that his [promises to the residents of Central Otago engendered in their breasts shall aiot be set at naught- by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones. We are justified in- so writing in view of the reply of the latter Minister to the urgent "appeal recently made 'to him to hare the connecting bridge with Alexandra- over the Manuherikia River, put in hand as quickly* as possible, in order that through communication shall be established 'when the remaining easy section to the Manuherikia shall have been completed; , The, Minister of Public Works has publicly stated that there never had been so much money available for -public works in the summer time as at present, and yet he has deliberately- withheld the calling of tenders "for the- necessary bridge works, with the knowledge^ that his v action means a delay/ of many months in connecting Alexandra with the railway, with all the inconvenience and loss of time and money to the inhabitants of the Clyde-Alexandra-Cromwell district that bis incomprehensible policy entails. We do not wonder at the* tone of bitter disappointment' that characterised the speeches delivered at the meeting of the Otago Central Railway league last night, and the resentment that wasehown at the utter want of consideration evinced by the Minister of Public Works for the comfort and welfare" of' an important section of the inhabitants of the colony, and for the. revenue of v the railway service. It cannot be questioned for one moment that the remaining sections^ of the line to Clyde — which appears to be considered by the Government as at - all- events a temporary terminus — will add largely to its success as* a splendid revenue-earning asset of '• thecolony. And yet for some incomprehensible reason Cabinet allows the Minister of Public Works to .disregard the colony's intereste, to ignore the appeals that are made to him to adopt a common-sense policy in the carrying on of this important colonial undertaking, and to treat the firm but respectful remonstrances of a public body elected to look after the interests of the line with studied indifference. We entirely endorse the views expressed by Mr Barron and the other speakers at the .Hailway League's meeting last night, and cordially approve of the proposal to ask the Mayors" of Dunedin and suburbs and other public men _. to sign a telegram, to the Government urging it to see that some small measure of justice is done to, Otago by at once pressing forward the necessary preliminaries in connection with ,the construction of the remaining bridge, over the Manuherikia. It is impossible for the Hon. Mr'Hall-rJpnes to ignore "the fact that four and a-half-years ago he promised, the longrsufferiog ■ people of this part of the colony, that railway communication with Alexandra should be an accomplished n fact in 1903, and that if he is allowed to continue the construction of the line in accordance with his present peculiar notions of what he "considers his duty to the colony it will be the end of 1906 before it is completed to Alexandra. It is idle to talk of New Zealand as a progressive colony if such inertia in the construction of an important section, of its arterial railways is allowed to continue, and we finish as Tve began byurging the Right Hon. the Premier to put an end to the scandal and see that the promises he made at Omakau some three weeks- ago are quickly redeemed.

At the State coal mine on f he 14th a yoxmg man named Thomas Smith, aged 21 years, was killed by a fall of etone in No. 1 tunnel. His head was completely crushed, and death must have been instantaneous. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict that deceased met his death accidentally by a fall of rock Avhiie working in the State mine, and that, in the •pinion of the jury, no blame was uttachable to any person. Mr Bishop (mine manager) and Mr Tennent (inspector of mines) were present. A young man named Pickering was severely injured on the 14lh at Perry and Hegan's sawmill, South Hokitika, through t a, loaded trolly passing over him. His thijjij •sras Badly fractured.