The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1886. Railway Crossings.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1299, 27 July 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1886. Railway Crossings.

It Is not often we feel it to be our duty to find fault with the actions or omissions of the Ashburton Borough Council, but we must confess we are surprised and disappointed by the spiritless manner in which that body has submitted to the arbitrary and senseless ruling o f the Minister for Public Works in respect to the proposed railway crossings at Cameron and Moore streets. It will be recollected

that the former crossing was definitely promised by the Minister during an official visit to this town and the latter, if not specifically promised,' has never been reasonably opposed. But Mr Maxwell, the General Manager of railways, who appears to be inspired by some extraordinary solicitude for the lives and limbs of the inhabitants of this district, ruled that the would be ever present dangers to the interests he hud at heart, and the Minister, as he had done before and will do again, allowed his own practical judgment to be overridden by the pusillanimous fads of his executive officer. It is a matter of small moment

to the Minister and one of no importance to Mr Maxwell that the people and property owners of Ashburton suffer inconvenience snd pecuniary loss by a piece of official arrogance and stupidity, but it should be a matter of paramount importance to the members of the Borough Council, and, we repeat, we are surprised and disappointed that some Councillor has not vigorously applied himself to the removal of these monuments to Governmental officiousness. The proposed crossings were made the subject of a discussion in the Borough Council last night, but a majority of the members seemed disposed to allow the matter to drift on indefinitely. There was some talk about a petition

to Parliament and a deputation to wait upon Government in respect to the matter, but ultimately the whole affair was left in sta/u quo pending the meeting of Parliament next year. Now, if the members of the Council were really in _«arnest about this matter, there would be no need to tell them of the means which should le adopted to secure the accomplishment of their wishes. But they are not in real earnest, and their evident indifference and faint-hearted advocacy has actually strengthened the obstructive position taken up by the Minister tor Public Works and Mr Maxwell. Had the Council early in the present session of Parliament, or during the session of last year, persistently urged the importance of this matter upon Mr W. C.

Walker, and at the same time provided that gentleman with evidence that the proposed crossings at Moore and Cameron streets would subserve the public convenience, interests and safety, the member for Ashburton, with his usual tact and perseverance, would ere this have secured the desired concessions. We are aware that a letter was written to Mr Walker asking his support to the proposals; he had one interview with the Minister for Public Works, who again expressed his Tplausible concern for the safety of his fellow colonists, and the matter was

allowed to drop. It would be easy enough to show, beyond question, that Mr Richardson’s fears are entirely without foundation; it is the duty of the Council to make this demonstration, and until it is made and its resultants obtained wc cannot admit that the members of the Council have accomplished their full duty to a large section of the burgesses.

Yesterday’s sitting of the House of Representatives, or rather the sitting of the House that was prolonged until the small hours of this morning, was of a somewhat sensational character. The Port Chalmers Fire Brigade .Site Bill having bean disposed of In a manner eminently satisfactory to its friends, the Now Plymouth Harbor Loan Bill came up for discussion and the redoubtable Colonel Trimble occupied the whole of the afternoon in delivering a very spirited attack upon the measure and its promoters. At the evening sitting the debate upm the Loan Bill was resumed, and before this had progressed far Mr G. F, Richardson, the member for Mat aura, moved as an amendment, That this House will agree to read the Bill a second time so soon as the schedule has been amended so as to provide for the completion ot carrying to a working point the unfinished railways before new lines are constructed ; that therefore the Items ‘ Blenheim-Tophonse £68,000, and ‘West-port-Inangahua £63,000’ be struck out, and the item, ‘Permanent railway sleepers and rolling-stock, £370,000’ bo reduced by £44,000, being the proportionate amount proposed to be expended on the aforesaid lines, and that the sum of £175,000 so saved bo allocated in the following proportions to the Main Trunk line:— Helensville North be given £35,000 additional ; to the NaplerPulmerston Una £45,000 ; to the Blen-heim-Awatere line £26,000 ; to the Otago Central line £60,000 in addition ; and to the Seaward Bush line £IO,OOO additional —As might have been expected this amendmebt provoked a long and Acrimonious debate ; and it was not until the reporters fairly broke down at 6.10 this morning that the House adjourned The debate will bo resumed this evening.