The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 14, 1901. LIGHT RAILWAYS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 186, 14 August 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 14, 1901. LIGHT RAILWAYS.

It is just possible that the persistency of the people of the Wairarapa in regave to light railways may yet be rewarded ; at least the Wairarapa limes is very confident on the subject. The Times thus proceeds:—“When Mr Hogg-, turned his back on the Light Line proposal—when Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon. Hall-Jones threw cold water upon itjthe Committee ought, according to some people’s ideas, to have thrown up the sponge. But the Committee went serenely on its way, and appealed to Caesar ; and now, as will be seen by our report in another column, Mr Hogg is showing signs of relenting, Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon. Hall-Jones will also probably follow the lead given by Caesar j Heddon, and favorably consider the j project, which, on a former occasion, they rejected. The fact is that the Masterton-Weber Committee knows more about L'ght Lines than do Ministers and members of the House. The Masterton Committee has long .recognised that it has to educate public opinion on this question 5 and that, in due course, Light Lines of a narrow

gauge will be demanded by country electorates throughout the colony. The first lesson it desired to convey was embodied in a local Bill; but obstacles -were put in the way of this, and so it then decided to s.ubmit to the House a general measure applicable to all local bodies.” The writer goes on to state that the object of the Committee was to bring the subject before Parliament upon its merits, and this object is now

practically attained that the Premier instead of putting difficulties in the way is commencing to remove them—- “ he was too shrewd a man to place himself in opposition to the Back Block settlers.” The Times become? quite jubilant on the subject. “ The Committee, it states, really had in the instanco a good case, which it has worked up so thoroughly that it was in a position to tako the field, although threatened with Government and other opposition. The tide now turns in its favor ; for it has got the ear of the Premier, and will shortly get the ear of the House.” It appears that a deputation of members of the House waited on the Premier directly after the Masterton deputation retired ; and from what was said by members of the deputation who were present on the occasion powers will be given to enable local bodies to construct tramways, where the settlers are prepared to pledge their land to pay the interest. The Masterton people evidently are quite pleased with this. The Times states : “ It will be impossible to get the money from the Government, under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, as they have as much as they can do now to make ends meet, with the money at their disposal. Still, it ‘is : evident that if permission be given to , borrow under the Loans to Local ; Bodies Act, it will relieve the Govern- :

ment of tlie demands from settlors of I money for road-making and sundry other purposes. In other words, the settlers will he developing the country, making it more productive, and further rateable, without the Government having to supply a penny towards it.” The main interest to the people of this district is that there are great hopes of getting the MastertouWeber light line of railway set on foot. As any movement of the kind is of special importance to this district. the success or otherwise of Masterton will be noted with interest.