The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1882.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1185, 27 September 1882, Page 2

The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI -WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1882.

A question has qeen raised by a contemporary the Nelson Evening Mail, as to how far even the Royal Commission, appointed to report on the b.ost rquto for the main trunk line of railway, can dissent from the verdict of the Engineor-in-Chief. The Mail seems to think that an officer of that standing cannot bo inteefered with and that his ruling whatever that bo must be iinal. With all deference to our contemporary such an idt:a is evidently absurd, for however able an officer may be, he ia not necessarily infallible, ami it would be simply nonsense to appoint Commissions at all if the previously arrjved at opinion of any departmental officer was not to be impugned. There is no doubt that, but for the opposition shown to the proposed line, the Government would have, tu'eepted the Marlborough route, probably owing to the advice of the Engineer-in-Chief, who probably thinks it better to adopt an easy route, even if public convenience sutlers materially thereby. On this sub..

jeet we quofa? the following from our contemporary rrtVm'd to:-— "It is not alleged that other technical reasons niiiy not cnvi-igh; tho advices of the Government Engineer, but even with that limitation, the doctrine is dangerous and founded on ignorance. The word corruption is a strong one but is not used unadvisedly. Our public departments are, we believe, as honorably free from taint as any in the world. It is, however, impossible to forget that, generally, tho higher the position the more frequent the temptations, and that social influence is a means of corruption as mischievous, though not as degrading, as money." There is little doubt that some "social influences" have been brought to bear already in the matter, and in the present agitation all interested in the western route these must be taken into account. Our contemporary further says truly ; — "We have no charge of corruption to bring but we must have an infantile trust in all our fellow creatures if we could shut our eyes to the fact that there are persons interested in most debatable cases, who are quite ready to purchase departmental and every other favor and assistance, if such assistance is purchasable by any means, gross or refined, within their command. Premiers and members of the Assembly do not by rising to their positions, throw oil the old man and become proof against tetriptation." There is great truth in these remarks, and it is against the temptations held out, to make appear the better reason, that the real struggle will arise. There is no question as to the exertions that will be made, the inducements that will be held out, to secure the East Coas&route and it will require all the energy that can be brought to bear to prevent them from being successful. Fortunatley public interest has been thorougly awakened and attention called to tho subject before too late. It will rest now with the promoters of the agitation, notwithstanding the opinions of the Government and the heads of the Railway Department to lay such evidence before the Commission as will compel its members to report in favor of the Western route, and prove that Parliament is the real final tribunal in the country and that- even the dictum of the Government engineers may bo overruled.