The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1918 THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVII, Issue 16612, 22 August 1918, Page 4

The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1918 THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Those in. Canterbury and Weszland who have worked unceasingly for the completion of a railway which should join tho provinces can rejoice that, .witli yesterday's ceremony of the breaking of the headings, all but the last stage of their project! has been passed. The short history of New Zealand has known no longer story of hope deferred, or, it may be said, of engineering difficulties finally surmounted. More than fifty years ago the West Coast railway was being "agitated." Forty years ago it was to be commenced, and finished in five or six years. Twenty-three years asro the Government took over the work from, the Midland Railway Company, which had found the task too much for it. Eleven yeaxs ago a contract for the 'Arthur's Pass tunnel, the- final 5 greatest obstacle, was let to a New Zealand firm, the work to be completed in five years. Once again the Government had to take over the too arduous task, and at last light shines between the headings, though it will be long yet before trains can use the tunnel. Sir William Fraser would ho'id out no better hope to yesterday's assemblage than that, in favourable circumstances. the work should bo completed now in two or two and a half years. If the Government adopts the proper policy, of hastening as much as possible (lie iime when it will get a full return from all the money that has been 'spent on the Midland Railway. it will not take so long as that, bus if it does, tlie remaining iime will not be long compared with the unconscionable period during which the work lias lingered on, while no one could say when it would l.e completed. ivow th-it the last engineering difficulties have been overcome. New Zealand can be proud of the construction of a tunnel more than five miles lone, the seventh longest in the world. It Tas a great work for this small country. to undertake, and one marvels at ! the courage of those who began "the line, fraught, with so many difficulties. They were ri"ht, however, in beginning it. "Westland should have rail connection with its neighbour province, n? which it. was a part in earlier days; the full growth of both depends upon it. Completion cf i'his line may well mean the beginning ot a new era for AVistland, which has been very much an isolated district, and to git the West Coast coal and timber at a cheaper rate will be no squill advantage for Canterbury. Coal is reduced in value when it is broken up for ocean carriage, and the closer connection villi attractive markets will serve to stimulate other industries of <he West Coast, whose results, in increased prosperity and settlement, will cause new demands to arise there for this province to supply. There is no reason why the Midland line, when it is

finished, should not- pay fair interest on ilie cost of ii s tion- Its traffic will. be from tlio first, and increascof, when it is linked up with Westport iine, which is already; the besp-payiiifr section of all 11i<£ New Zealand railways. Sir Wil-i" liam Eraser has stated that money : is only available for Tiuhlie works* after war requirements have beeiv met, and he has also nrged, he-; fore now, the shortage of lahoni| duriupr war time as an obstacle; to faster progress with the linev. But labour can he found, if it not frittered less important worlcs. and the argument fori finishing the "West Coast railway, as soon as possible, for the of a full 2-etura on mcmey spent J is ouejhat should weigh" seriously with ihe Minister. " ' T. ■