THE AKAROA RAILWAY BILL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 220, 27 August 1878, Page 2

THE AKAROA RAILWAY BILL.

This Bill Avas read a aecond time in the Legislative Council on the afternoo_"*o£ Friday last. As we anticipated, there was considerable discussion and opposition, and in one instance even abuse. Sir D. """ Bell and Col. Brett seem to have commenced the attack, which was responded to by Mr Gray, who, while doubtless urging on the second reading, was also most anxious to exculpate himself from chargeeof self-interest. Col. Whitmore spok strongly in-favor of the Bill, characterising it as onelikely to prove of use to the colony, concluding with a graceful compliment to the Trust, by saying that thS"* carrying out of the project could nofbe better effected than by leaving it in thegA hands of the company that had initiated it. This free, outspoken, advocacy of the Bill brought up Captain Fraser, who stigmatised it os the most "impudent" Bill he had ever heard of, the hon. gentleman being = evidently of the same opinion. as Colonel Kenny that Akaroa does not deserve to get any of the crumbs, but must be content Avith seeing them snapped up by other localities—poor Akaroa ! The following is the telegraphic report which Aye take /. from the Press, and it is at any rate satisfactory to note that the division upon the second reading resulted in a majority i%nits favor of 11 to 6, Avhich augurs more favorably for the successful passage of the Bill through itsjfinal stages :— .Wellington, August 23. The Council this afternoon spent the greater part of the time in a somewhat fruitless discussion on the Ellesmere an*l Forsyth Reclamation Bill. ■" • Sir D. Bell and Colonel Brett stror'gly opposed the second reading of the BillK I Mr Gray replied &% some length, "rebutting tho insinuations of selfvinterest d"* his part which had been throAvn outs by' J various speakers. Colonel. Whitmore said that the Government favored the Bill, and considered the project one well Avorthy of being undertaken by the country. He supported wholly the leading principle of the Bill, but' 1 would take exception to certain flaws and defects of small importance. The Government had every reason to suppose "the Bill Avas a most useful one, and that th© project could in no way be carried out so Avell as by the company in Avhose hands the A\'orks Avere originally placed. He hoped hon. members Avould withdraw the opposition. Captain Fraser had never heard of - a « more impudent Bill. Colonel Whitmore's speech had shaken his faith in the present Government, and lie had made up his mind to. vote against the second reading. * j

Colonel Kebny protested against local Bills. Theri were many places, he would instance Taranaki, far more deserving than Akaroa. He objected to the Bill, and shoul&vote against it. Mr Miller thought it waß very cool to termi the Bill an impudent Bill. This work was one that would have been made many years ago if railways had been as much in vogue as .they were now. Akaroa was the finest natural harbor in the Province of Canterbury—far finer naturally than Lyttelton, which owed all its advantages to artificial means. Mr Wilson moved, and Colonel Whitmore seconded, the adjournment of the debate.' Mr Beynolds thought there was no reason for adjourning the vote for the second reading. Captain Eraser thought the debate should be adjourned till next week, when Dr Menzies and others would be present. The motion for adjournment was put, and negatived on the voices. Mr Chamberlain thought the work had been set afoot in an unwise manner. The Bill should have been a Government measure. He would not be able to support the Bill. Mr Hall, in replying, took exception to certain insinuations that had been made against one hon. member of the Lower House, the originator of the Bill, by his friend. Colonel Brett rose and asked the Speaker to inform him 1 whether he (Colonel Brett) had used unparliamentary language. The Speaker replied that he had used word b which appeared to him undesirable. Colonel Brett) accordingly apologised. Mr Hall continued, and concluded his reply, urging Btrongly the eecond reading of the Bill. j The motion for the second reading was then put, and a'division taken, in which ayes numbered 5.1, noes 6. # The Bill was accordingly reacjl a second time.