THE COLONIST. Published Daily.-Morning. Nelson, Friday. May 23, 1902. PUBLIC WORKS AND LOCAL JEALOUSIES.

Colonist, Volume XLV, Issue 10416, 23 May 1902, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Daily.-Morning. Nelson, Friday. May 23, 1902. PUBLIC WORKS AND LOCAL JEALOUSIES.

Speaking at Dunedin recently, Mr j. A. Millar, M.H.R., in referring to the expenditure of borrowed money, complained that money whs being frittered away. ' "Take, for instance," he remarked, "the North Island Trunk line, admitted to be the principal trunk line in the Colony unfinished — if they had put the whole of their attention on that line } and spent the whole of their money on it, the probability was; that it would have been running .within the course of a year »r two. At the present moment they had no less a sum than £1,022,000 lying idle on unopened lines, and, assuming interest at four per cent, that was £40,000 being paid lor that dead capital ; and if that money had only been spent on one or two of the principal lines, they might have £had them in the public account now, and earning interest on the whole cost. That was Why he wanted the Government to deal with the matter in a particular manner. Lot the South Island be judges of What Were the principal lines in the_ North Island, and vice versa, and there would be a wiser expenditure of public money than at present, and they would have it reproductive in a shorter time. ' ' The argument that one line should be completed before the commencement of another is but a specious one, and were it practicable, which as a rule it is not, to employ the whole of the men who are engaged in the public works of the Colony on one particular work, there would naturally be an outcry from ©very part of the Colony where people had to wait for moderate conveniences. If the life of man was not limited as it is, people could perhaps manage to wait, but in the struggle for existence, roads, bridges, or railways are needed by every settler in order that he may get his produce to market, or iihat additional markets may be rendered available, so that he may not be affected by a sudden glut in one place. What would have been said in the days before the Public Works Scheme of 1870 if roads had been constructed from Nelson to Cobden, and from Nelson to Amuri, and to Christchurch before the nearer valleys had been brought into touch with a seaport? With railways it must be admitted that the loss in consequence of having several portions unfinished, and therefore nonrevenue producing, 'is much greater than in the case for odinary roads, but the requirements of th© people have to be met even where the cost of a work is - increased by reason of some impatience on the part of those who have to bear the cost. In railway construction it is surely cheaper to proceed from one terminus whence material and supplies can be most cheaply forwarded on, than to start on several sections, and have to convey material, etc. across gaps by expensive methods. The fact is, however, that the people of every district are eager to see the commencement of Works which they believe will be of benefit to them, and Mr Millar must himself acknowledge that the people of Otago have been very successful in their insistent agitation for railways, roads, and public works generally. They have secured a very large expenditure on a railway into the centre of Otago, which is in no sense

a trunk line, while Nelson still re

mains unconnected with the- railway system of the Colony, and that, notwithstanding that the original scheme of 1870 provided for a trunk line from Nelson connecting it with the south of the Island, and while other places also yet remain isolated. Mr Millar himself indicated a want of consistency when, following the remarks which we have alluded to. he observed : ' ' Coming to the public works expenditure of last year again, he would say that the South Island was not getting that justice to which it was entitled. If from a purely political point of view the Government were dealing with it they could not be so treated. Tne majority of the Government supporters belonged to the South Island, and yet- they found that in the matter of railway works they were dealt with much niore harshly than in the North. . . . . Last year the Otago Central line had £100,000 voted for it. The expenditure was £67,725; the Catlins River line had £12,000 voted, and the expenditure was £7408; the Orepuki line had £12,000 voted, and £8,300 was spent; the Heriot line had £5000 voted, and £41 was spent. or a total of £129,000 voted, and only £83,504 expended oh the Otago lines alone, and a deficiency on the Otago [lines alone of £45,500 between the vote and the expenditure. Mr Millar is apparently desirous of regarding the best interests of the Colony, but as a local representative of jjreedy Oifcago, he is unable to rise above local jealousies.

The 'Fbisco Mail. --The 'Frisco .mail will arrive at Nelson this morning, being sent from Wellington in the ss. Herald, which left for Greymouth direct, bat will call off Nelson, and meet the Pilot boat, which brings the mail ashcre

Cabb Toubnajient. — Now that the winter evenings have come, the Foresters have decided to hold. card tournaments at intervals, and on Monday evening nest the brethren from Stoke will play the members of Court Robin Hood. . ' .

Presentation. — Yesterday Mr A. P. Dryden, the acting Chief Postmaster, on behalf of the staff, presented Roy Jones, a popular telegraph messenger, who has been transferred to the galleries in Wellintgon for instruction, with a silver watch, chain, pendant, and pencil case. Mr Dryden spoke highly of the lad, and wished him every success.

A Visiting Optician. —In another column Mr Ziniler Metz announces that he" has taken rooms in Trafalgar street, opposite the Trafalgar Hotel} where. he will practice his profession as optician. Mr Metz comes to Nelson with high credentials as a doctor of optics of the Illinois College of Opthalmology ; he is, further, ber of the American Assoication of Opticians, and of the British Optical Association. Mr Metz brings with him the most modern and complete instruments and apparatus for testing the eyes, &c, and an inspection of his testing appliances will prove most interesting. In the course of conversation, Mr Metz stated to a representative of this paper that he limits his practice on the eye to errors of refraction, of which he makes a special study, and he quotes Dr. ILirtridge "as to the necessity to have the refraction of the eyes taken in all cases of headache as a matter of routine, errors of refraction being one of the most common causes thereof.

Fireworks. — Prom an advertisement which appears in another column it will be noticed that Messrs Stokes and Bick^rton, of Christchurch, are now manufacturing fireworks of every description, including colored lights for illumination of public gardens, buildings, and private houses. In view of the approaching Coronation celebrations, it is expected there will be a large demand for fireworks, and those wishing to commemorate the occasion may obtain catalogues, and all information regarding prices from Messrs Rout & Sons, who have been appointed local agents for the Christchurch firm.

-At noon to-morrow, Messrs Bisley Bros. & Co. will offer two valuable city properties by public auction, particulars of . which may be found in their advertisement columns.

On Saturday next Messrs W. Kout & Sons will sell tea, lager, beer, verandah blinds, moulding, collie dog, 60 sacks barley, wheat, and hops, commencing at 10.30.

Mr W. Lock will sell this day wall papers and bicycles.

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