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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1467, 17 April 1873, Page 2

Brief mention has already been made of an interview between the new Premier and a deputation from Nelson, whose appointment as such was made at a recent public meeting, whose object was to present to the Premier the presumed advantages of the West Coast Railway, and whose members were his Honor the Superintendent, the Hon. Drßenwick, Mr Joseph Shephard, and Mr Albert Pitt. Of the result of that interview we have now, in oar latest Nelson files, some further particulars, those particulars being contained in some written memoranda which passed between the deputation and the Premier. The deputation appear to have put pointedly to the Government certain questions as to the probability of the latter promoting the scheme spoken of, and the Premier seems to have a3 pointedly, but advisedly, answered the questions put. The questions and answers we print in our present number, and we do so in the hope that they will receive attention from our readers, and elicit some more discussion among residents oE the West Coast than the subject has hitherto done. Whatever virtue the scheme of constructing a railway from Nelson to the West Coast may possess, it should be carefully considered whether the advantages are such as to warrant the granting to any company of a vast area of country, "including all minerals known to exist, or which may hereafter be known to exist therein." It is equally requisite to consider carefully the view of the sabject which has already been raised in these columns — namely, that the country which it is proposed thus to confer upon a company would be more materially advantaged by a railway connecting it with Canterbury than it would be by a line connecting it with Nelson ; at any rate, that the one project is of primary importance, even if the other has merits of its own. That view of the matter has, fortunately, not been overlooked by the Premier, and in the last paragraph of his reply to the deputation, he opens the question of the desirability of extending the proposed railway to the north-eastern portion of Canterbury Province, but he refers to such extension only as " attaching additional importance to the enterprise," and an extension the full advantages of which would only come hereafter. Tthose who know thoroughly the intimacy between the interests of the West and East Coasts, as to trade and carriage, recognise this proposed extension as being really the proper point at which to begin the enterprise, and, in the prospect of but slight sympathy being felt with that idea on the part of a company formed in Nelson, it would be well for the inhabitants of the West Coast and of North Canterbury to promote, by agitation and by deputations, if necessary, the undertaking of the particular part of the project to which the Premier has thus referred. Between the people of the West Coast and those of Nelson there are widely different opinions, not as to the ultimate advantages of a railway intersecting the Province, but aR to the direction in which the first works should be undertaken, and, as the question is to come before the Provincial Council, where West Coast representatives are a weak minority, it is due to them that they should be forti6ed by some expression of public opinion on the Coast, as we hope they will also be by some action on the part of the people of Canterbury. The following is the text of the memorandum which was submitted to the Government by the deputation, and Mr Vogel's reply thereto : —

1. Has the Government taken auy steps to procure construction of the portion of the line intervening between Fox.

hill and Brunnerton in consideration of grants of land as provided for in sections i 8 and 10 of the " Railways Act, 1870 ?" 2. If not, does Government intend to take such steps, and do they see a probability of sucsess ? 3. If the Government does not see a reasonable prospect of securing the construction of the line in the manner referred to in questions 1 and 2, will the Government move the General Assembly to provide the required funds from the existing or future loans for public works ? 4. In case the answer to each of the preceding questions is in the negative, is the Government prepared to move the Governor to grant land, including that on which the rails are laid, in the manner and to the extent provided in the 9th and 10th sections of the "Railways Act, 1870," to a company formed for the purpose of carrying out the work in accordance with the scheme set forth in the report of the Committee on Inland Communication, including all minerals known to exist or which may hereafter be known to exist therein. 5. Will the Government consent to lease the portion of the line now under contract — namely, that from Brunnerton to Greymouth, and that from Nelson to Foxhill — together with rolling stock to such company, on condition of their becoming responsible for the interest on the cost of construction ? 6. If the Government does not consider that they are in possession of full powers to grant the land and to lease the short lines, will they move the General Assembly to confer such powers. 7. In the event of the Government being willing to give affirmative answers to the 4th and sth questions, do they require any legislation or other action on the part of the Provincial Council, and if so, of what nature. Oswald Curtis, Thomas Rknwick, Joseph Shephakp, Albert Pitt. Wellington, April 4, 1873. To the Members of the Nelson Deputation. Gentlemen — The Government have carefulty considered the questions submitted by you, as a deputation from a committee appointed by a public meeting held in Nelson ; and I have now the honor to reply to those questions as follows : — 1. No steps have been taken to procure the construction of the portion of the line between Foxhill and Brunnerton, since the failure of the provisional agreement made in London with Messrs Brogden and Co. It was thought better to wait until the progress of railways should stimulate private enterprise, in a manner such as is evidenced by the proposals now under consideration. 2. The Government would be willing to carry out the intention of section 9 and 10 of " The Railways Act, 1870," as regards the construction of the specified portion of the line in consideration of grants of land. 3. The Government are not at present prepared to recommend the Assembly to provide funds for the construction of the proposed railway. 4. The Government, if recommended so to do by the Provincial Government, will agree to a grant of land in accordance with sections 3 and 4 of " The Nelson and Cobden Railway Amendment Act, 1869;" but, as the railway now proposed is not to be extended to Westport, the Government would stipulate that the waste lands so to be given shall be within the present boundaries of the Province of Nelson, having a drainage to the valleys through which the railway shall pass, but excluding such portions of the Buller Valley proper as may lie to the westward of a meridian drawn through the point of junction of the Inangahua River with the Buller. 5. The Government have to point out that the County of Westland has a substantial interest in the railway from Brunnerton to Gre3Mnouth, inasmuch as the coal mines on the Westland side are security for the railway ; still it is not to be apprehended that any opposition will bo offered to a work so obviously for the benefit of Greymouth, The Government will therefore be ready to agree that a lease of a railway from Brunnerton to Greymouth shall be handed to a company such as that proposed, provided that the Government of the Province of Nelson approve of such a course, and guarantee payment of interest and sinking-fund upon the cost of the line ; provided also, that provision be made for the proper protection of the interests of the County of Westland in respect of the coal fields within its borders. As to the Nelson and Foxhill Railway, I have to observe that, following the course adopted elsewhere, it will be open to the Provincial Government of Nelson, under conditions to be agreed upon, to take charge of that railway when it shall have been completed. But if the Provincial Government desire that the line should be leased to the Company, the Government would concur, provided that the Province stil' remained liable fur interest and sinking fund on the cost of the line. Before either of the lines was actually handed over to the Company, it ivould, of course, be necessary that there should be some assurance that it would be able to carry out its undertaking. G. The Government will be willing to ask the assistance of the Assembly should it prove that the powers supposed to be possessed by the Government are insufficient to enable effect to be given to such arrangements as those proposed. 7. The Government will obtain for the Provincial Government of Nelson the opinion of the Attorney-General upon any questions relating to this matter, as to which the Provincial Government may desire the advice of that gentleman. It may be well, perhaps, for his Honor the Superintendent, before leaving Wellington, to confer with the AttorneyGeneral. I have further to observe that whilst the Government recognise the great value of the enterprise proposed by the public meeting at Nelson, they would attach additional importance to it if the contemplated Company could see its way to also construct, from some point of the suggested railway, a branch or extensiou to the north-eastern portion of the Proviuce of Canterbury, so as to form hereafter, with the Canterbury northern railways, part of a trunk line through the Middle Island. If the Company undertook such an extension, the Canterbury Government — although the line would only reach the borders of that province — might recommend a grant of land as a subsidy. The General Government, as an induct-

ment to such an extension, would, in addition to the land grants, agree to ask the Assembly (provided the extensions were constructed) to authorize a loan to the Company of the cost of the rails for the whole of the line, inclusive of extension ; the rails purchased to be not leis than forty pounds weight per j'ard. The terms of such loan to be, interest at the rate of five per cent., and after the first two years the principal sum to be commenced to be repaid by a sinking-fnnd, extending over eighteen years, security for the loan to be given by a mortgage over the railway, and over the coal-mine of the Company. I have, &c, Julius Yogel. General Government Office, Wellington, April 9, 1872.