THE WAIRARAPA STANDARD SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 1874. THE RAILWAY LINE.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume 3, Issue 189, 27 June 1874, Page 2

THE WAIRARAPA STANDARD SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 1874. THE RAILWAY LINE.

Aa Parliament will now shortly Moot fur the despatch of business the present appears to be a favorable lime for pressing on the attention of the Government the policy of carrying ihto effect, as soon as possible,'the promise which has been so repeatedly fives, of having a line of railway surveyed through the Wairarapa which shall take a more central route, and be more likely to meet the views of the settlers, and the present and future requirements of the district, then the one laid off by Mr jJochfort. It is necessary that they should be reminded of this promise as they have hitherto acted aa if it had never been made. It in necessary that the (uiic should have it pressed upon their attention at this time, as it will be recollected that the Minister of Public Works elated to a deputation of Wairarapa members that, for financial reasons, the long and repeatedly promised survey could not be undertaken until the meeting of Parliament. Alternate Unes have been laid off on other portions of the route, and for other railway* in other parts of the colony, more particularly for those proposed to be constructed in the Province of Hawkcs B*v, and we can sees no good and sufficient reason why the survey through this district should any longer bo permitted to constitute such a conspicuous exception to the rule. Obvmmmlj when more than one desirable rente presents itself a trial survey of each of them should be made in order that the beet may be accurately aseer tamed before a costly work of this character is proceeded with. Economic consideration* certainly suggest that this should bo done, and the repeated promises made by the Government that, in this particular case, it should bo done, afford prims facie evidence that they bold the same opinion. They are not required by the large majority of the settlers of the Wairanpa to carry lb* railway through the district by n more ecn.ral route, sod nearer to the principal centre* of po pnletien, if it is found to be impracticable, impolitic, or in oposit ion to the ftnoml interests of the colony; but they do eamealy. ask that those matlore ahall bo accurately ascertained before a much lose convenient, and in almost every respect, mors nmleair* Me rente is finally decided upon. They believe, whether trnly or otherwise we •hell net determine, that this latter font# would not have been laid off in tho first instance had the interests of n few influential nhh, who are able to pram their views energetically and poniatently on Government and on the snborwnate officer* of tho Public ’Works Deportment, lain in a different direst ion. Possibly the interests of these few influential settlors and those ef the general public will be found, alter the alternate line has been bon•rtly and scientifically examined, not eenflictiag hat in perfect harmony; hot at present all appearance* forbid •ay sock view being taken, and will prevent any such ever being enter tamed, unless it shall be positively ascertained, after the promised survey bee been made, that engineering con■■derations must outweigh all others,

and determine the route ia their fay or. The onljr argument* worth noticing in rapport of Bochfort’a line, are that it preaenta fewer engineering difficulties, and that, aa a colonial undertaking—a portion of a great trunk road—it ia the ahorter route of the two. But, on the other hand, it ia contended, that economic aa well aa engineering feat urea in auch undertakings deaerre consideration, and that the “ shortest cuts” do not always result in the briefest journey. Engineering difficulties of course seriously effect the cost of a work ; but the amount any work costa must be estimated, not by the sum paid for it, but by the net returns it premises to realise. Some things may be dear at any price, and others cheap whatever the amount paid for them. This is true of public works, as of common commodities, and is a point which has not been allowed to hare its due prominency when the comparative cost of the road by the two routes has been in trodueed into the discussion. In tie old coaching days of England, and under the present railway system of ’he United S'*tea,it has been proved to demonstration, by overwhelming evidence, that the largest profits are not obtained from the traffic between the i wo extremities of a line, but from the traffic between the intermedia re sta lions. This is a truth which all who bare considered the subject cann t fail to recognize It has been urged by the advocates of the Underhill line, that when a railway is brought to, or through, a populous township, its cost is necessarily greatly augmented owing to the higher price demanded for the land required for its constrmtion, but they require to be reminded that it is not necessary for the fulfilment of the general wish that the line should be brought through either Greytown or Masterton, nor is it fair to assume that the Government will have to pay any more money for the land required by the one route than the other. What is asked is that a survey be made for the purpose of ascertaining whether a mure central route could not have been selected than that Jointed out to and by Mr Eochfort. f such a practicable route can be found, it will be eventually the cheaper whatever may be its first cost, it will open up more country fur occupation ; it will prove a greater public convenience ; and it will ensure a much larger amount of traffic.