The Waikato Times. TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1872.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 9, 21 May 1872, Page 2

The Waikato Times. TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1872.

Why does our railway progress so slowly ? . Will it ever bo completed to Mercer r 1 These are two questions that we are repeatedly j asking ourselves without being able to record ! any but a doubtful answer. An uncertainty exists in the minds of all as to whether the fundH set apart for rail ways, and coutemplated to be borrowed, will be sufficient to complete but a verv small proportion of the projected lines. This being the ease, the question naturally suggests itself— why has so. much been undertaken by th© Xlin'stry ? Jhe I principal reason is this: If the Ministry I were to maintain power, they had to give ;i sop to every little political centre. It was felt by all that the money was borrowed and would be spent; therefore, regardless ot the advisability of constructing railways, each of these political centres insisted having some of the money expended in their district, on the principle that gome of their number would be enriched. This fact goes far to bring nut clearly the disadvantage of popular government, That the above is a true picture of the state of affairs is patent to all, and the only remedy far the evil appears to be for the members of the House to strengthen the hands of the Ministry sufficiently \o allow of their using their judgments, and only consenting to the construction of such lines, to use tho language of Mr. Giaborne, "as will pay working expenses —we would add, or open up good country which, without a railway, is useless ; thereby adding to the wealth of the Colony by increasing its producing j powers. We do not hesitate to with - j out fear of contradiction, that the line from, Auckland to Mercer should bo constructed j under both conditions. It is certain to move j than pay working expenses, and will open up j a magnificent country which, without a lail- j way, is comparatively useless. In a former article we pointed' out that tho Waikato is the onlv district to which the city of Auckland can look for a sufficient supply of grain and cattle to obviate the necessity of importing from abroad, and in the aosence of a radwny it is impossible that this can be the case, the cost of transport being prohibitory. It is almost need lass to point out that within a verv few years the wealth retained in tho colony, by not having to import, from other countries* will exceed the original cost of the railway; the country will, therefore,have the railway without, haviug decreased its riches. Ifc is self-evident that the whole of the railways cannot be constructed with the funds at our disposal; it, will therefore become the duty of the Mouse to strike the least promising ones from the list, to wait till such time as the financial position of the colony will justify us in entering into doubtful speculations. The members of the House will have to rise above the selfish line of conduct usually pursued by them. They will have to sacrifice, if necessary, the petty interests of their own localities for the sake of the prosperity of the whole colony. It has often been said, and, we fear, with muoh truth, that " patriotism is nonexistent 111 New Zealand. lhe colony is now pnssing through a very critical stage in its history, and, unless some political honesty is brought to bear on its affairs, the result can only be disaster ot the worst deBCriptior.

Tukki-; is only one clergyman of the Anglican Church in the YVaikato distnct. Ihis fact is neither creditable to the inhabitants or to those who have undertaken the duty <>f attending to the religious instruction of the- members of the Church of England in the Auckland Province. We cau easily understand that it i» not so pleasant for a clergyI man to reside in the Waikato as in. the | inrirne<liate neighbourhood of Auckland, and I probably the pay attaching to the duty wounl I not be qnite so much ; but we feel confident j that sufficient funds could be raised, by volunj tary subscriptions, to enable a clergyman to = live comfortably at the present time, and the | 1 dny is not far distant when the increase m j j population and wealth wiLi make the religious service of this districts one of the i most lucrative in New Zealand. ' We regret that we should have felt it ; necessary to allude to the monetary side of the ; question; but it is of course a "sine qua nou ' i that if a clergyman is to-east in his lot with i ours, we must provide him with sufficient I funds to maintain himself in the position I which his culling entitles him to hold. ! To consider the other side of the question, j we urge oil the Bishop of the Diocese the I fact that there is a large number of his grownj up flock without any religious instruction or aid whatever ; <tnd what perhaps is mote important, there are an immense number o! children growing up in utter ignorance of j the faith of their ancestors. This fact alone should be sufficient to induce some earnestj minded man to reside with us. We ; would receive him with open arms, and there j are few men who would not contribute their ' mite to the support of a minister of their ! ancient faith.