A WES.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 715, 10 January 1903, Page 3

A WES.

The Christchurch Press, in commenting . Mr Soddon und the West Coast rail- \ ,y, says : —lt is reported that Mr Seddon ig 5 -satisfied with the progress, to call it by nattering name, of the West Coast railway, and threatens loudly to make things move faster. If this is true, it is good news, whatever may be the reason of this sudden departure frotr the leisurely rate of construction which finds favor with Ministers and those whom thoy employ on the building of railways by co-operative contract. It seems at length to have dawned upon the belated intelligence of the West Coasters that the object with which railways and roads and other public works are put in hand ought to be that the said works should be finished as quickly as possible, so as to increase the prosperity of the neighborhood, and become remunerative without unreasonable delay. When they contemplate the snail-like advance of the railway which was intended by this time to have connected them with the fertile plains of Canterbury and the markets of that province, they may even begin to suspect that the policy of the Government in the mattor of public works is to spin out operations for as long a time as possible, so as to provide work for the co-operative voter. Wo would, therefore, direct Mr Seddon’s attention to the Canadian Pacific Railway. This was carried out at the rate of two miles and a half per day. Tne climatic conditions were often extremely severe, as may bo imagined, and .100 miles had to be cut through solid rock. Moreover, the work was almost ontiroly done b.y coolies, who are not generally supposed to possess either the skill or the strength or the honesty in work of the European navvy. Add to this that the line is a model of strength and security in construction, not like the Siberian railway, which will most of it have to bo practically re-laid. In tbo matter of railway construction, as in the travelling rate of its trains, New Zealand would beat the world if, as in a donkey raco, the prize was given for slowness instead of speed