THE RAILWAY COMMISSION.

Western Star, Issue 350, 19 May 1880, Page 2

THE RAILWAY COMMISSION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l was wondering whether” it was neCßssa , ’y to have an able and willing member (o represent us in Parliament. The idea struck me by hearing of a Railway Commission being on a flying visit through the country. lam inclined to think that if our member cannot be honestly trusted to report on the requirements of the district which he represents, it might be us well to give over our trust to a Commission Parliament at once and thereby save tbe member’s two hundred pounds honorarium. 1 noticed when the Commission party arrived in Riverton that, they divided : the Civil Engineer and another gentleman went up tbe country to see the proposed Wuiaii branch lino, while the others went to Orepuki. This, if you like, is undoubtedly a specimen of reporting the “ pig in the bag,” as is generally done in our Southern hemisphere. X conclude that this work could be done more economically by taking the report of the member for the district and thus save ourselves the Commission’s expenses. Where is this Orepuki hue supposed to go to? Is it to terminate at Orepuki? 01 help my country, no ! that would be a disgrace to the present generation, unless our longsighted Government wants to grow grass on the formation. Why, then, did not the whole party go to Orepuki, from t.ienre to the Waiau 'Estuary, and up Cameron’s Bush track to Clifden station, and from Clifden down the proposed Waiau branch linv ? Then, I should sav, those scientific gentlemen would have been more able to give a I rue report of our Western railway. At all events, i venture to say that t.h s proposed Waiau branch line is not at all required, and the monej which would be required for iis construction would be sulEcient to extend the line from Orepuki to Clifden sla ion. Tub whole community would reap a handsome compensation thereby, and the Government cou d boast of having one railway that was piying for the money expended on its construction. Bui. by lermimating the one at-Orepuki and the other at the Orawia, neither of. the two will pay until the day .New .Zeahtud sinks. At the same time 1 contend that- there was never a railway constructed in the South that would pay as well as the Orepuki If it" was extended t-o lake it to my- own or any other one’s private garden. Kb,-we will borrow another five million for that purpose. But 1 would rather spend the present loan on opening up homes for an extra thousand families.—l am, <fcc., / . , : i . - InOIEDIATE.