THE WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 993, 12 July 1883, Page 4

THE WEST COAST RAILWAY.

It is erroneously stated (writes, a con-, tributor to the N.Z. Times) that the Ministry have,. “ temporised on the West Coast * Railway question, by “yielding to outside pressure of rtre Canterbury and-Westland members.” Something has - happened, but not exactly that. It is no business of mine to defend Ministers. I am interested only in observing fairpl’ay : and stating what I believe to be facts. The Colonial Treasurer was reported to have expressed a decided opinion at Nelson against any “diversion” of the Li 80,000 allotted out of loan for continuing the Middle Island main railway northward to Cook’s Strait. Now his colleague, the Minister for Works, is reproached with practicably undoing that pledge, by promising to a deputation of members on Friday that the main railway should not be carried northward beyond the Red Post during the next recess, and that the balance of the Lißo,ooo should be held in hand till next session. Well, I am informed the Minister did use words to that effect on Friday. But I am also told he was only repeating what he had stated to the House three days before in his Public Works Statement. He then said the northern extension would not be continued beyond the Red Post, and that the further extension must .wait “until the Legislative has what effect shall be given to the resolution passed by the House last session,” namely, as to specially taxing in value Thus' it will be seen that a part of the Lißo,ooo is to be expended during -this year, in extending the line northward to the. Red Post At that point the choice of routes comes in, andthe Government have not yet'decided which of the two northerly routes ’is preferable. This chdice is not urgent at present; but, when they have so decided, a further moiety probably one-third—of the LxSo,ooo will J)e put in next year’s Estimates for continuing the northern extension. T canndtste wherein the Government have, undone any pledge, or they hare not . “ temporised.” Ido admit thay have 1 “ yielded ,” to-the extent of fifdmisihg' to get the Arthur’s Pjuja route surveyed; but this they were obliged to do in order to reserve from, sale the fifteen miles of unsold land" on either side whichever route might be deemed preferable.