THE RAILWAY TO THE BRUNNER MINE.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 836, 1 April 1871, Page 2

THE RAILWAY TO THE BRUNNER MINE.

[to the editor.] Sir, — As a great doal has and is being said about the *~ ! o;il and Railway Question, and as nrilhimr h;is been done on this subject but writing and talking, I think I may be excused in adding my quota to the same. As all those who are now writing on this subject are on the same side as. that on which they wish the railway to bethat is, the Greymouth side— it is just possible that we also, who ought to be equally interested, may also have something to say on a subject of such paramount importance to our future. While quite agreeing with those who say, that by the railway being on the south side of the river, the result would be a material gain to the rising town of Greymouth, at the same time, it must be borne in mind that on the Nelson side Cobden would suffer in. a corresponding ratio to the rise of Greymouth — not the Cobden of to-day, but what it undoubtedly will become if the proposed line of railway is carried out by tho Nelson Government. In the first place, we maybe assured that, had it been of any advantage to Nelson, the annexation of Greymouth and its distiict to this Province would have transpired some time since ; but there is no doubt both Mr Curtis and other members of the Provincial Council, seeing that, by far the greater amount of revenue was derivable from their portion of the Grey Valley, were not going to do anything so prejudicial to the interests of the Province as to take over Greymouth, its district, and about LIOO, OOO of debt, without any corresponding advantage. Again, Nelson and Westland are under two separate Governments, whose special duty it is to legislate to their own individual advantage, without any particular regard to that of the other. If che interests of the one happen to be identical with those of the other on any question, so much the, better. In that case the performing party usually expects and generally gets the credit of a generous action. Such acts, no doubt, occasionally occur between two Provinces. But in this case the interests of the one are directly opposed to those of the other, and Nelson i 3 evidently master of the position, if she will only take steps to secure it. It might possibly alter the question if the two Governments were annexed to each other. But even then itis very questionable, looking at the superior advantages which Cobden can offer as a site for a permanent town, or city, as the case may be, as compared with those of Greymouth, the inhabitants of which place, besides being heavily taxed in the shape of stiff ground rents to be paid to the Maoris for their business sites, &c, are also continually and heavily taxed to preserve their property from the inroads of the river, and withal, there is every probability of at any day the much vaunted protection works, wharves, landing places, and receiving sheds some fine morning be found wanting. In the event of the business people and others having to make Cobden their future place of residence, the ultimate gain would, for the resons above named, far outweigh any temporary inconvenience they might be subjected to in crossing over. If Greymouth submits "her protests, accompanied as they are by proposals which, going together, does not exactly look the " clean . potato," the question naturally arises whether will it be of greater advantage to Nelson to allow a a part of the Westland County to have this mine to divert the trade, and to enhance the valueof propertyofthatCounty. Would the small royalty she would get compensate for the absence of a large and flourishing sea port town, independent of enhancing the value of the country through which the line might pass ? The answer would most certainly be in the negative. Your contemporary appears to think that, even in the event of the Nelson Government going on with the line on their side, sufficient capital can be found in Greymouth to continue one in opposition to it on the south side to work-the ceal of the Westland Province. As far as raising the coal i 3 concerned, it is a well known fact that they could not compete in raising coal against this side in consequence of the extra cost that would be incurred in getting it, owing to the heavy dip the seam takes on the south side of the river, not speaking of the first outlay for machinery, &c. This is, doubtless, the reason they are so anxious to obtain this property, thinking that the advantages of the one will compensate for the shortcomings of the other. Apologising for thus trespassing on your valuable space, I am, &c, Brunnerton. Brunnerton, .March 30.