L'a 



Hy niciiiis of a branch line (^oinuMMinu- llic Iiilercolonial with th • port 

 ot Mataiif, \vi' would ur/atly di-'Vi'lop rivi'r naviu'atiou, decn'ase thr di.s- 

 taurc- which scpiirat":-, this port iVoia th:- u'r. at centres and give 'o the 

 wlioi;- rcii'ioii ol' (Jaspcsia, and I'Vcn the norlli shore of 1 lie Saint Law- 

 re. ic;- an i;idii.sti'ial and agricultural dtsvelopnient hitherto unknown. AVe 

 might also, and with reason, make Matano a i)ort for shipping cattle to 

 Etirope. For thai jnirpose. exiensive pastures could be oi)laintHl in the 

 U' ighborhood where the cattle could n-main some days and 1) ' slupp.'.d to 

 Europe (lU!!' r<st('(l I'roni their hiligues and in pi.>ri'ect health. i<"inally. 

 th.inks to t I.e i)ni>roveuii'nls made to its port, Matine would b"'<)iiie a 

 sh/ppiiiLi' ]!iac ■ where transatlantic steamers would take or leave th.' mails, 

 auu as Mai ii'' is si.vlv miles i'rom Riuiou; ki. tlieri^ would beu'ain ol'threi' 

 or lour houivs in seiidinu' and reciviug the mails. All tlie capiiiins of 

 Ocean steamers who anchor oIl'Matane. are unanimous in saying thai, the 

 (xmslructioi. ol'a i)rancli railway leading 'o it would bring ab.Mit the 

 making ot'a harbour, the proloiieation of naA'iii'ation to ;h > moeth ot' De- 

 ee:;ib"r and its oj)eniiig bei'ore the "ud of March. 



At Matr.ne lh"re are, besides the sa\\-niills and mills lor cut tiny- spools* 

 wiiich are .>-lii[)ped direct to Europe, someother industries, such as l.-.niie- 

 ri 's. a spinr.ing mill, (S:;i'., to whi<'h tlie eonstruotion of a railway would 

 give a ureal imjietiis. 



Apart from these considerations, there is anolh-r which is also ofgreat 

 importance ; 1 mean Matane as a wat ring-place. Every .snmnier there 

 WMiild be sure to be a ureal inllux ol' visit(n's. as the place p;is«esses overy 

 aliraetion o;; > can imagine and all the advantages r '(juir''d even for a 

 lengthened si ly, bathing, iishing, driving, boaiing on the Saint Lawveiiee 

 or on the Matain', in a word ovei'ything lalculaled to attract and k ep the 

 people from the cities. 



This is asstiredly no! a consideration to be overlooked, even as regards 

 only the proHts which the projei.'tcd branch line would derive therefrom, 

 besides ih. fact (hat the aeconiplishmi'nt of v.diat 1 luive just men- 

 tioned in deiail would no; (uily impart new life a::d an extraordinary 

 deV'doi)ment to I he whole of that section oi' tl;e country, but would also 

 eontribiil" alxive all to keep our p;'oi)le with us, vvhieh is thi' lirst object 

 We have in view. 



At pres ni, although ther.' is still too much emigration from M .taue, 

 there is less to complain of therr^ than in other parts of the county, b 'cause 

 foi'tunat' ly there are local industries there which keep a good nuiny p 'ople 

 employed and if, nevertheless, far too many still leave, about an equal 

 uiimber return and the evil is fought step by steji. 



The chief industry of Mataue is lumbering and thi' timber consists 

 principally of cedar, spruce and white birch. Of thj latter spools are 

 made, which arc shipped direct to Europe. 



