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Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1129, 13 September 1882, Page 2

Wk are very yl.icl, iucl«t?d, to find i hat ihe public of Kot-fton arc about to

wake up from their railway lethargy, j and take measures to co-operate with j Christchurch in connection with the j abominable job contemplated by the Government in proposing to extend the main trunk railway lino of the island southwards from Blenheim, for the further enrichment of a few already rich squatters, and to the great loss and inconvenience of the public There can be no doubt that if a united agitation is maintained in the Provincial districts of Nelson, Westland, and Canterbury, that it must have effect, and will stay the perpetration of one of the biggest railway jobs, not to use a much harsher and more appropriate word, that has been proposed for many a long clay in even New Zealand, whose imputation for the construction of political railways is world wide. The whole excus^f or the Marlborough route is that it is easier of construction, and would offer fewer engineering difficulties. This is according" to the report of Government engineers, but other professional men of quite equal ability, but in private practice, deny this in toto. Iwen assuming, however, that such is the case, the question of a little extra cost is nothing as compared with the utility of a line when made, and the fact of it passing through a populous country in lieu of a waste. Ihe whole question will, however, be thoroughly ventilated shortly. A very numerously signed requisition was presented to the County Chairman on Monday, asking him to convene a public meeting to take the subject into consideration, and at it a good deal of light will be thrown upon it. The Government, it may be added, have already conceded so far, that a Royal Commission will enquire into and report on the best route before any final determination is arrived at.