The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER. 22, 1882.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1183, 22 September 1882, Page 2

The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER. 22, 1882.

It is singular how people can change their minds, and on the subject of railway communication between here and Christchurch a great revulsion of feeling seems to have taken place. No doubt the very promising yield of our mines during the past twelve months, the evident permanency of the district, and the large dividends that some com. panics have paid, have influenced our Christchurch cousins to regard the Inangahua district with more favorable eyes than of yore. Only very recently too several of their firms have discovthat there is a large and safe trade to be done with the district,' that there is an excellent market for all kinds of produce, that the Inanagahua requires a great deal of machinery, and that the pay is good. Be it owing to what it may it is clear that Christchurch, even if late in the day, has woke up to the value of the Inangahua, and desires to be united by the closest bonds of railway communication. When the so called commission,, or delegates rather, appointed by the Chamber of Commerce at Christchurch, came over on their tour of inspection, they met with nothing but misery, and the report they gave in was in keeping with the influences they were subjected to. They had nothing but wet weather, they could not stir a step beyond their hotel, they had n<o opportunity ofe learning anything about, the- district -4bejpjcame to visit, and' at the tiine*dulness in mining' matters reigned' supreme. **■ uch a change has come over the district as has dazzled the Christchurch residents, and rendered them just as desirous of cordial unity as they were before indifferent to it. f n the part of the people of this district, the late meeting showed conclusively how warmly any action, either for railway or other communication would be reciprocated here, and there is little doubt that the altered relations will result in the greatest good to both places. hough, the Westland members in the House are a very small contingent, and though their notorious differences of opinion have in a great measure neutralised even the influence, that &- small body might have had, the same does not apply to Canterbury/ which can boast ' of twenty representatives, all of whom will probably, be favorable to the movement, that is- now §o happily begun. Should Otago join). as is most probable, twenty-four ■ more are added, and these with our three Westland members, constitute an, absolute majority in Parliament. The Nelson people will, no doubt, side with us, and j with them there could -be fifty-two members counted. Under these cir- j cumstances, it will be the interest as well as the duty of the Railway League here to do all that is possible to place matters on the best possible footing with these three provincial districts, and to do all in their power to secure unanimity. There will be little difficulty in showing that the. route by way of the Ada Pass is both practicable and easy, but it may perhaps be a greater trouble to secure united, opinion on the subject, and in this some diplomacy* .niay^bß -neqded. here is little ; d6U^' thf&'the-. same gentlemen .reported/ S q unfavorably on the probable .payable; nature of. the proposed line will endeavor to justify their opinions of former days, and that i they -will be zealously assisted in any unfavorable action' by those so materially interested in the Blenheim line. It will require all the assistance chat the Inangahua and Christohurch can gather, to fight the battle just entared upon, and it will require, earnestness and energy to wage the war. The first business, as has been already remarked, is to secure the hearty cooperation of other places, and to form such a solid phalanx as to carry out the views of the League triumphantly. It lias, made an excellent beginning, let jus hope that the close of its labors will be characterised by the same spirit, and crowned with the success that it deserves.