THE Thames Advertiser. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1880.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XIII, Issue 3634, 23 June 1880, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1880.

Oun Auckland contemporary, the 'Herald,' occasionally seeks to advance the interests of the Waikato district at the expense of the Thames. The Auckland land-owners are, of course, more interested in the prosperity of that district than this. • They are content by'investment in mining interests to make money here, and transfer it to more substantial holdings in the "Waikato ; and in view of are-introduction of the land tax desire to see the district make such rapid strides as will enable them to realise large profits on those investments. An instance of this policy of Waikato advancement occurs in Monday's issue, where one of our contemporary correspondents makes the gratuitous • assertion that it will not :, be necessary for years to com?, to'carry tho Thames, Valle y; line past the head of navigation at Oinahu. The object- of the writer is perhaps not so much to depreciate the Thames end as to secure the Hamilton line, for wo find the writer telling us that Government would not be likely to let the first section remain a piece of useless and unremunerative expenditure by neglecting to carry it on to the head of navigation. Now, we quite agree with him that Ministers are scarcely likely to do this, but" it will not be from economic motives, or out of consideration for expenditure already incurred in the manner, de? scribed. A glance at the Thames end, will show that Ministers do not condescend to such common-sense views, for here we have two sections and a bridge contract completed, and. lying "useless and unremunerative," but no prospect of turning the seme to profitable account by continuance. The reason given by Mr' Sheehan, when addressing the Thames electors, is no doubt the correct one, and much more likely to weigh with Ministers 'in letting the extension of the Waikato end in preference to cbntinu-, ing this end, namely, that the former

runs through the right sort of country, We perceive that this has been interpreted literally, not ironically, by those interested in such view'; Mr Sheehan, however, meant that the land was ■in the hands of the right parties to push their interests. Tho continuation of that end will benefit private individuals with Government followings rather than open up lands about- to be r thrown into the market. It will augment the value of private, not Government, purchases, and Mr Sheehan means that it is much more likely to receive Government patronage in consequence. Our Auckland contemporary, cares little for the Thames end so long as these Waikato interests are served, and Auckland speculators benefited proportionately. An impression having got abroad that both the works

would be shelved, it is thought to sacrifice the Thames, where three contracts lie idle, rather than see one section at the Waikato end remain in a similar position. We are not trying to disparage the efforts of the Waikato people in endeavouring to secure the continuance of their line. We maintain that they are entitled to demand its continuance after the vote of last session for the purpose; but wo do not think our Waikato friends will sympathise with the dog-in*the-inanger policy enunciated by an Auckland journal on the subject. Nothing short of a'continuance of the line at both ends should satisfy those avlio have the real interets of the Thames and Waikato at heart. To stop the works at the head of socalled navigation means to render the line unprofitable, and prevent its continuance to the Thames on that ground alone, therefore no friend to the district would advocate such a course. The " mixed railway and river route," so unselfishly advocated by our contemporary, would simply mean excluding the district from all the advantages of railway communication, because we are all aware of the cost of transhipment, and those who have been along the Waihou river know the folly of the argument, At the same time we shall be prepared to see this suggestion acted upon, because we know that such feelers have been thrown out before in quarters where they are most likely to have been

successful. -Mr Sheehan shrewdly anticipated such a result when he informed us that Ave did not possess the right sort of land—meaning landlords with influence at headquarters. The Thames must be content to remain what these people desire it to be—a mining village—until such time as their investments in the Waikato lands have been turned to profitable account, when our turn will follow, just as the brightest rays sueceed the dawn.