PEOPOSED DEVIATION OF NORTH ISLAND RAILWAY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8004, 24 October 1887, Page 3

PEOPOSED DEVIATION OF NORTH ISLAND RAILWAY.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. The Wavganui Herald, in noticing tho remarks by the Auckland Star as to the advantage it would be to the districts north of Wnnganui to have tho Stratford route to the- North Island Railway, in place of that via Murimotu, says :— •'• We firmly believe that tho Stratford route would be tho preferable one for the districts named, but certain questions must bo auswered before the Government can reverse its course. The report of the Engineer on tho Stratford route was distinctly unfavourable, both with respect to the gradients and the land, and it was at the same time stated that tho difficulties of tho Murimotu route were no greater. The Engineer in his report showed that, making all allowances, the evidence was overwhelming in favour of the Central route. Two of its strongest advocates were Mr. Mitchclson and Mr. Fergus, both members of the present Ministry. If it can be shown that tho evidence was wronj, it is not too late yet for Parliament to reverse its decision. But the evidence must be reviewed by a competent and impartial tribune, not by the exercise of a " block vote " of political influence. In Wanganui the feeling leans more to Auckland tbun Wellington, and there is no disposition to back up the Murimotu line if the evidence shows the Stratford to be. superior." The Lyttelton Times says:— "The question is being re-opened by a petition which some influential meichants of Auckland are circulating for general signature in their district, asking that the Stratford route of tho North Island Trunk Line shall be adopted. The subject is likely to give Ministers less perplexity rather than more. In the first place it is a question of borrowing, and the prospects of borrowing are not favorable to the prospects of new works, whose advocates require them to be prosecuted on anything like a great scale. Arrangements have been lately made by which the issue of the North Island Tiunk Loan has been, we presume, indefinitely postponed. As part of their policy this loan will find its level without, we imagine, giving Ministers very much trouble. Seeing that their strong c&rd is retrenchment, their supporters cannot expect them to display any vigour in the prosecution of the work. la the second place it is a North Island question. The North Island was hopelessly divided upon the course of the line in 1884. Tho happy idea was then conceived of referring the matter to a Committee of Southern members. Their decision in favour of the central route was embodied ia a statute, and there the matter stands. If the Northerners choose to re-open it, the same course is open to the Government of the day as was adopted by its predecessor of 1884. But this would only be necessary in the extreme event of the question of change of route being made a burning question. There is no sign, as yet, that the petition will succeed in practically disturbing tho political situation. Not that the id(a of disturbing politics for the sake of the deviation of an authorised railway would be abhorrent to the Auckland or Taranaki politician.