THE MIDLAND RAILWAY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2074, 27 February 1889, Page 3

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY

(Wellington "Post.") It seems almost incredible, but so far as wo oan ascertain, it ie tbe fact, that the contract or contracts between the Uovernnamt and the Midland Kail w«»y Company contain no clauee binding the Company to proceed with tbe work Within any given timo. Tho Company is no doubt required to enter into contracts fur certain portions of the line, and when these contracts are entered into the work has to be prosecuted continuously, but apparently they may postpone the signing of the contraota as long as they like, and the Government have no powir to ioßist on their doing anything, nor, m case of their doing nothing, to termiuate tbe agreement and release the land set apart. In fact, the Company may lie on their oara for years and yoare, wailing until this land, psrchanoe, improves greatly m value, and then the> can go on if they bo think fit A more ono sided contract it would be impossible to imagine, and how tbe Government conld be induced to put the oolony ao completely m t ie power of tbe company we cannot understand. There must nave been great negligence and want of forethought somewhere. The company seems fully to understand tbe strength of its poai tion, and is therefore not hurrying iteelf . It ia apparently waiting for the approach of a kind of fiaanolal mlllealum, when money m any quantity, and at the very lowest of prices, oan be had for the asking. Tncrt is no sign of snob a good time coming, and until It comes the programme evidently Is that nothing shall be done Id the way of railway construction, and that the land shall remain looked up, to the {treat lnjary of the V^est Coast districts. We do not think, however, that FarHameut will be disposed to exhibit tbe patience on which the company no doubt oaloulates, The question Is suro to be raised very early In tbe session, and uoleis the company displays an intention of proceeding with the work without farther delay, and Is able to thow that pecuniarily it is m a position to do so, we shall expect to see a proposal made to terminate the oontraot at all hsaatds or cost after reasonable notice Is given, It would be far better to face the question of compensation, if any could be held due to the company under the oir— oanntanooß, than to allow the whole of tho West Coast lands to remain for an unknown period of years locked up awaiting the company's pleasure or convenience. If tbe company cannot, or will not construct the railway witbln a reasonable period, the sooner tbe aolony ia done with them tbe better, even though it may, through the fault of the Government In entering Into so one-sided a oontraot, have to pay prptty beayljy fop terminating the connection.