North Island Main Trunk Railway.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXIX, Issue 9158, 30 September 1898, Page 4

North Island Main Trunk Railway.

The recent agitation in regard' to the completion of railway communication between Auckland and Wellington, does not appear to be likely to lead to a satisfactory result. That it would be of immense advantage to Auckland to have railway connection with the capital of the colony, thero ican be no doubt whatever, and all those who have been agitating for the completion of the line are to be coinmended lor their endeavours in this direction. It is, however, most unfortunate that the question of route should have been brought forward, as a diversity of opinion on thia point will undoubtedly mm m p (wrcuse

for the refusal of the Governmect t<j complete the line, There are many! influences at work to prevent Auckland haying the advantage of railway con} petition with the southern part of the island,.und ; in introducing -such a debatable matter as that of the routd for the proposed line, its'advocates hayej quite unintentionally, no doubt,; placed in the hands of the opponents ofj iheline, another ground for objecting! to its completion. ■ j In the first place the commercial jealousy between, Auckland would, ot itself be a power-; ful obstacle to be overcome. At present' a great proportion of the produce of the fertile district of Taranaki is sent to the South, but if the line were completed, and ,the settlers in Taranaki; could have ; their produce conveyed to: Auckland in a shorter time than it now> requires to send it to Wellington, the Auckland merchants would securea por tion of the trade. Then again, we may bo sure that tho shipping companies do not look -with favor upon the proposal to connect Auckland with Wellington by rail, as its construction would mean a considerable lose both in regard to passenger fares and freight. People who had to go to Wellington, on business or pleasure, would not risk the annoyance of an attack of mal fa mer, when they could be quickly and safely conveyed by rail. We may be certain that both the Union B.S. Co. and the Wellington commeroial men will not be anxious to assist the Northern members in bring* ing pressure to bear upon the Government to complete a line which would probably be disadvantageous to them. It is therefore much to be regretted that the Northern inombera did not confine thomsolvos to urging upon the Government the ■ necessity for comploting the line, leaving it to them to settle the vexed question of route. There is littlo doubt that once railway communication is an accomplished fact between Auckland and Wellington many, branch lines would bo formed to, tap the districts on'either side of, it , ; The i question should not be one of route; but of railway connection and the introduction of the former must be detrimental to the chances of the line being completed at an early date. ■■'•