The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3841, 16 June 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1875.

The amended Peninsula and Ocean Beach Railway Bill, as circulated, do:s not in reality get rid of all those undesirable “ concessions ” which the Provincial Council objected to, and which could not have found stronger condemnation than they received at the hands of Mr Hagoitt. While by clause 6 it affirms that all “ contracts and promises of concession, Ac., to the company are declared void, and declares that they cannot he renewed without the “ special ’* consent of] the Council, the most valuable of those concessions are actually re-granted to thecompany, inasmuch as the fehedule remainmg unaltered includes the strip of land, threequarters of a mile long, running paralle to the Southern line, and the sections between Rattray and Jetty streets, for station purposes. We thought the mind of the Council had been plainly spoken on the second readmg of the previous Bill. If Mr Hagoitt does not comprehend it, we desire to enlighten him. The Council is not averse to the construction ot this line—on the contrary, it admits it to be a work of public utility; but it must be constructed on the same conditions as other lines made by private enterprise —such as, for instance, the Kaitangata and Grevtown-Outram lines. It must act as a feeder to the main trunk line, and therefore must be connected with tho latter. if the promoters are unwilling to do that, let them, as Mr Tolmm suggested, take their chance with the General Assembly. The striking out of the portions of the schedue we have alluded to, and the alteration of clause 3 so as to provide that the line shall be constructed within such limits of deviation as the Assembly may determine, will be sending the Bill to that body with “the approval of the Provincial Council to the scheme. '* When the Bill gQea into com* mittee to-night, the Council will be stultifymg its previous action if it do not insist upon the company adopting one or other of the courses we have indicated.