The Southland Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, 23rd NOVEMBER, 1882.

Southland Times, Issue 4484, 23 November 1882, Page 2

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, 23rd NOVEMBER, 1882.

Thk Hon. Mr Johnston and his party have reached Invercargill, and the Minister will to-day have to submit to the process that awaits him at every stage of his route. There are no symptoms that the deputation business sits heavily on Mr Johnston, and his character for courtesy and consideration in this part of his work has preceded him. From all we hear, a good many matters will be brought under his notice, but none of them of a kind likely to create much controversy. The handsome conduct of the Government in having made provision for increased accommodation at our railway station and that at the Bluff has removed one burning question out of the way. It is probably unnecessary to urge ■ on the Minister the need for immediate action in carrying the scheme into effect, for he must be as well aware as anyone that the proper conduct ofthe grain traffic next season depends on the prompt movement of the Public Works Department. The Chamber of Commerce will no doubt bring forward the gross anomalies ofthe Invercargill and Bluff railway tariff, a subject that we happen to know is not new to the Minister. It is to be hoped that at last an assurance will be obtained that this long-standing grievance is to be redressed, and the port and the town relieved from what has been an undoubted incubus in the trade of both. The question of the railway workshops, which we have reason to believe will be ventilated by the Town Council, will be one much more difficult of solution. We have all along held that public economy and colonial interests are what should be considered in connection with this matter, and not the interests of any locality. But it may perhaps be shown that in reinstating, to some extent at least, the workshops at Invercargill, both a local and a colonial benefit would arise against the gain to be secured by repairs being done at a central and distant establishment like that at Dunedin, are to be placed the large inconvenience and loss of time inevitably occasioned by the transport to and fro of the ongines and carriages needing to be taken in band. If there are to be workshops at all at Invercargill, as there will undoubtedly continue to be, it is a question whether their scope might not be enlarged with great advantage to the Department, Another question will be tbat of a loop-line alongside of Tyne street, to extend, say from the statioli at Elles Koad Station to the Invercargill Station. The main object of this accommodation is to admit of sidings being laid to manufactories that are likely to be called into existence if it were afforded. It is notorious that the want of a facility of tbis kind, not only in Tyne street but in Annan street, has hitherto stood in the way of industries being started that were had in contemplation, and that would have been of essential benefit to tbe town. These loop lines would have been unnecessary but for the regulation of the Department forbidding sidings being taken direct from main lines. This regulation may be quite justifiable, but if it is to exist, there ought to be facilities of another kind provided for extending tbe manufacturing trade of the town. It is difficult to see what sound argument can be adduced against the arrangement proposed. If expense be urged, the reply is that the railway as well as otber interests is to be benefited, an increase of goods to be carried being the result looked forword to. It would be hard indeed if the progress of the town were to be retarded by any stinginess or want of enterprise on the part of the Public Works Department ; and if railways do not exist for the purpose of fostering trade, it is difficult to understand for what they do exist. It was to be expected that the Seaward Bush Eailway Committee would take the opportunity of interviewing the Minister regarding the initiation of tbat public work, the sanction of whicb was obtained after so great an expenditure of labor, both within and outside of Parliament. The Committee will naturally be anxious to know whether they can rely on a speedy commencement of the line, and we hope the answer on this point will be favorable. But a point of still greater importance is tbat regarding its extension to Toi Tois. It were much to be wished tbat Mr Johnston could see for himself something of the country that this line would traverse on both sides of the Mataura. A sight of the route would, no doubt, convince bim that it is the natural line of communication with a port and market for the rich district on the east side of the river, as well for that lying to the west, with its agriculture and timber trade. We trust tb at ifc may still be possible for Mr Johnston to make an excursion towards the Toi Tois, and for making which in a. short space of time there are ample facilities. It cannot be too often or too f strongly insisted on that the extension to the Toi Tois is a main raison d'etre of the Seaward Bush section. We trust that, in the interest of both sides ofthe Mataura, as well as in that of the town, these things will be strongly impressed on the Minister by the Committee, Jt is well

[that a small vote has been secured to ensure the"commencement of the line, but muck more requires to be done, and nothing i» of greater consequence than to impress on the representative of the | Gqveramentthe need of a short and inex-' pensive communication betweea Invercargill and the Bluff and the Toi Tois dfetrict. , , „ ,