THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1872,

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 25, 27 June 1872, Page 2

THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1872,

Muss us -Bhcgoen have signed -the contract for out , railway Tliis is the most important iiitolligence which, during our brief existence,, we have boon called upon to communicate. We may now fairly calculate that before the expiration of eighteen months traiua will be seen rapidly wending their way between Mercer and Auckland bearing the surplue produco of the Waikato, either for consumption in the town or export to less favored places. There will then be little difficulty in inducing settlers to take up the'waste land in the district. Had a railway been constructed years ago the Waikato in place of being one of the most thinly inhabited places in New Zealand, would to-day have a large nad flourishing population. In addition to the facilities of communication which nrc about to be afforded, the Native difficulty is settled. The most timorous, provided ho is acquainted with the facts and circumstances connected with the matter, as the settlers in the Waikato are, would not hesitate to settle in any portion of this, as fine as any, if not the finest, district in the North Island. Our river communication is unequalled in New Zealand, Steamers towiug barges laden with the produce of our industry or with those articles of daily use we receive in return, may even now be seen pasting up i and down'our rivers. Unoccupied land is getting , very scarce in this colony. Numbers'of men of substance havo visited the Waikato in search ot land suited for farming and grazing purposes. Without an exception they could have secured land admirably adapted for both these purposes, and many would have settled had it not been for the two drawbaojes—the Maoris, aad the impossibility of getting their produce to rnai'ket at a cost to enable them to compete with producers : in-, the neighbouring colonies and other portions of this. If there is a contemplated railway which will fulfil the conditions on which only they were intended to,be constrncttd that between iVlercer and Auckland is the one. In the first pi nee it will open up a district for extensive settlement, which couldnotbedone by anyother.. means. We feel confident that the passenger. traffic, the coal, grain, flax and other produce which will pass over the line will make the building of it a remunerative speculation. It is to be sincerely hoped that the works will be pushed on vigorously. . : •• •:,

It is of course impossible tbut the produce of the next harvest can trarel along it, but that that of l§73r!will do so, admits of little doubt*. Werrnkf fxrint out that there is no time to be lost either by the settlers in the district or by those, who contemplate coming here, if they wish to reap, the first fruitefrom one of the most usefnl works ever undertaken" in the Colony. The day the Waikato, Bailway is opened shontcl be one of rejoicing* throughout New Zealand, from that day forth the b.urdena of all will be lightened. Money which now leaves the country for the purchase of food will remain in it, and be applied to the carrying on of fresh industries. "We again congratulate one fellow settlers on the probable completion of the 'One work from the want of which their industry has been rendered comparatively futile.