Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1885. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1115, 31 January 1885, Page 2

Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1885. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

The question to be discussed at the public meeting called for Wednesday evening is, so far as Lawrence and adjacent districts are concerned, a very important one. The extension of the Lawrence branch line to Roxburgh, while conferring an inestimable boon on the district of which .Roxburgh is the centre would also benefit Lawrence in no small degree. Mr Pyke has already obtained a promise from the Government that the Tapanui line will be extended via Swift Creek in the direction of Moa Flat, with the view of ultimately pushing the line on to Roxburgh. In the face of this promise, it is possible that we are too late in the field ; but still so many important and weighty arguments can be advanced in favor of the Lawrence route to Roxburgh as opposed to the Tapanui route that the greatest possible pressure can be brought to bear upon the Government in favor of the former. The extension of line required to reach Roxburgh in either case is of about the same length, while the balance of favor in the way of engineering difficulties lies all towards the Lawrence route. The only difficulty to be met with along the whole route is the Big Hill on the road to the Beaumont, which would require to be pierced with a tunnel. With that single exception, the route along the east bank of the Clutha is singularly free from obstacles in the way of railway construction. Between Lawrence and the Beaumont, with the one exception already mentioned, the grades would be easy, and the formation of the roadway a matter of not much difficulty. The County Council has already constructed a road along a great part of the route which could be utilised for railway purposes, and the land required has also been set aside as a reserve for a railway ; while in the Swift Oreek extension the land would have to be purchased. These arguments alone should be sufficient to turn the scale in favor of the Lawrence extension ; but besides these there are other weighty arguments that can be advanced. If Dunedin is to be the entrepot of this country which it is proposed to tap by railway extension, then the most direct route is via Lawrence. The distance would be something under 100 miles ; while by the Swifo Creek route the distance would be nearer 150 miles. It is manifest, therefore, that the settlers would prefer the shorter route, as the difference in carriage of goods would be considerable, to say nothing of the reduction of maintenance expenses over the shorter line of railway. Then, again, the Swift Creek extension would tap no Crown lands available for settlement; while by extending the Lawrence line to Roxburgh the Beaumont Station, containing something like 30,000 acres, a good part of which is first-class agricultural land, would

be rendered available for settlement. In the meantime magnificent crops of graiu — both oats and wheat — are grown upon portions of the land in question ; it is among the best grazing country in Otago, and only the difficulty of sending produce to market prevents the Government from throwing the whole of this excellent land open for selection under agricultural and pastoral lease. If by tapping it with a railway the value of the land should be increased, as it undoubtedly would, to the extent of £1 an acre, that would go a long way towards meeting the cost of construction — would, in fact, cover nearly a third of ths total cost. In addition to this, there are bebwen 4,000 and 5,000 acres of land, including what is already surveyed and what is in course of survey, in the Benger district, which the extension of the Lawrence line would make available for settlement. It would pay the settlers of Millers Flat to submit to a special tax for some years for the advantage of enjoying railway communication, and it would pay the County Council to sustain a tax almost equal to the interest of the money required for constructing the railway rather than keep up the expensive roads which it would thus be relieved of. In fine, it would pay the County Council to construct the line if it had the means available. There is everything in advantage of the Lawrence extension, while very few arguments can be adduced in favor of extending the Swift Creek line to Roxburgh. Each and all of the arguments we have advanced, and any other equally weighty arguments that can be brought to bear upon tho question, should be discussed at the public meeting ; and if these arguments can be embodied in a requisition to the Government, it will not be an easy matter to go behind them or to ignore them in considering the claims of either route. United and decisive action is necessary between Lawrence and the districts interested ; and if the question is taken up in a proper and spirited manner, there should be no insurmountable difficulty in the way of getting the urgent demands of the people carried into effect. Unless a determined effort is made by the Lawrence public to secure what is their unchallengeable vighfcj they will have to bear the chagrin of seeing the trade which should legitimately pass through Lawrence diverted into other channels, [f this is permitted, with the Otago Central line on the one hand and the Tapanui-Rox-burgh line on the other, Lawrence would be completely isolated, and would gradually deteriorate into a second-rate village, instead of the thriving upcountry town which Nature destined it to be.