EVENING SITTING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1704, 5 November 1887, Page 3

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7-30 p.m. IHB MIDLAND BAILAVAY. The Premier moved his resolutions re the Midland Hallway contract, premlslDg bis speech by briefly detailing the history of the railway, Government were dear that the railway would uot be built without further legislation, and that was the reason why they had brought down fresh proposals. Personally he waß m favor of the work, though he thought it \ might h vo been delayed for a few years, Id order to give the company a stable basis at Home they asked that the value of the land should be guaranteed. This might fairly be conceded. The other important point was that of mining:. The goldfields must be intsrropted, and Government proposed to take power to proclaim 750,000 acrep, which be thought wonld bo sufficient safeguard. It had been intended to insist od the company being registered m New Zealand, but It was found that ibis would break it up altogether, as it would prevent funds being raised. Government proposed instead that the company should have a representative m the colony, who could sue and be sued. Sir Julius Yogel also entered into a hiitory of the undertaking, dwelling at some length upon the difficulty whiob had cropped up of preventing the mining industry from being Interfered with. Be considered that the 750,000 acres which It was proponed to ant apart would be ample for the purpose, He pointed out that the company did not ask that the value of the land should be guaranteed at an average of 10a an acre before the railway was completed. What they wanted waß that by the time the work was finished the land should hava brought that amount. This was Bn important point and minimised the risk, if there was any. The modifications proposed by the company were of a reasonable nature, and he did not imagine the House would refuse to agree to them. Mr Downie Stewart said It w»b apparent that the company was likely to fare very well through the outbidding of parties over this railway. It had been distinctly understood that no guarantee should be given, andj as far as he could judge, from the complicated nature of the original contract, there was every probability of the whole matter ending m a gigantic lawsuit. He notioed also that the company asked the colony to give up the alternate blooka which had formed a pronouuoed aDd favorable feature m the original Boheme. It was evident that all they wanted was to get all the money they could out of the transaction Mr E. Richardson denied that there was anything to justify the assertion that parties were outbidding one another for political support over the railway, He complimented the Government on thelt efforts t» bring matters to a Satisfactory eonoicißion. Mr Hutchison said that there should be some mutality, If the colony guaranteed the land concession to the worth of a million and a quarter, then, If It brought more, the surplus should go to the oolony, Keatrlotlons ought to be imposed on the sale of land, and provision made for settlement along the line. Mr Menteath said these new proposals showed that the corupatiy was too weak for the task it had undertaken, and he was afraid they would give an exorbitant advantage to foreign capital, They were In effect going to raise a three million loan at a discount of about forty per cent, foi the colony would eventually have to buy the line, and would then have lost the land, Mr Perceval said they were not asked to guarantee money, but only to make up value m land, and even that Tras limited In at»s. Those befit qualified to give an opinion were satisfied that the land wue extremely valuable. He qaotii from Wipßi latborltttp on tWi point,

Mr Taylor said it was within hia knowledge that one block' of fif'y thooaaud acres of tend along the railway had been applied for at £2 an aore, but the applicants were j net. too late. Me Turnbuil B%id he had always supported the railway, bat was rather staggered at the alterations proposed. He disliked the extension of time for completion asked tor. There were c.ill a good trary tapa m the conditions, and he was afraid that they had not been oarefnlly revised. He condemned the abandonment of 'he alternate blocks and the absenoe of any penalty for non-completion \ of the line by the empany. - Mr f^rimmond said the alternates blocks we' 6of vital consequence to the Battlement of the Weßt Coast, and if they wore given up, deeply interested as ho was m the line, he should feel it his duty to oppose the conoesaion. The mining industry was also threatened, and In committee he should further express his objections. Sir Qeorge Qrey trusted the Houae would pause before committing itself to this new departure. He viewed with alarm anything tending to alienate large areas of land. He strongly opposed the alterations, and advised them to adhere to the old contract. He suggested that the matter should be referred to a com* mlttee Dr Hodgkinaon supported the proposal to refbr the contract to a Select Committee. i Mr Fuhon bad grave doubts whether ' this would be the last concession to be aßked for by the Company. He moved that a committee be appointed by Government to consider the question and bring down a report on as early a date as posaible. Mr Turnbuil saw little use m relegating the matter to a committee. It would be better to adjourn the debate for a week. Mr Blake, aa one who had 25 years experience of the country, believed that very few members knew what they were talking about. He was satisfied that the land would average a great deal more than 10b an acre. A committee would lead to no good object. Practical legislation was wanted, bo let them get to it at once Mr Yaleatine said the effect of the alterations would be to shut up all the land m the raiWay district for an indefinite time. Mr Seddon condemned the proposal to appoint a committee. If the contracts were pot gone on with 1500 men .would be thrown ontof work on the West Coast, and great distress would ensue. Major Atkinson seeing there was no chance to finish that night, thought it better to adjourn. If Government on consideration, approved of the appointment of a committee they would be prepared to move it. Agreed to, and the House rose at llt3o p.ra,