LATEST TELEGRAMS

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1868, 31 July 1874, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS

GOVERNMENT INTERVIEWED BY WESTLAND AND NELSON REPRESENTATIVES. GREYMOUTH HARBOR WORKS. [JPROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington J uly 30. At the interview of the West : Coast members with the Premier this morning, Mr Yogel absolutely refused to authorise the borrowing of money for the Mikonui Water Race, or to depart in the slightest degree from the programme laid down in his financial statement. He said that the Government fully recognised the necessities of Westland, and had proposed all that they could ask Parliament to accept' Mr Yogel twitted Mr Bonar with the inconsistency of his having last session opposed the proposals of the Government to enable the Province to borrow, and in now urging the Government to do that which he had opposed. As to Harbor Works at Greyraouth, Mr Yogel said that the Government considered Greymouth and Westport as exceptional cases, and it was their intention to proceed with all the works that might be considered necessary for the development of the coal measures. It was, he said, absurd to suppose that the Government would encourage the production of large quantities of coal without providing means for its shipment at the same time. He said the Government were much discouraged in their efforts to benefit Westland by roads, railways, &c, by the rapacious claims that were made for compensation. Westland was in this respect quite exceptionable to the rest of the Colony, where a laudable desire had been shown to facilitate public works. He refused to consent to the payment of the magistrate at Greymouth. Upon the question of obtaining possession rock quarries, Mr Yogel expressed surprise that the ground had not been reserved for public purposes, and would direct the attention of the Public Works Minister to the question. He promised that a full survey of the railway from Hokitika to Greymouth should be made, but would, not ask for any vote this year, as the condition of the monsy market had altered in a startling manner, and made it necessary for the Government to exercise great caution. On the question of the alteration of the Telegraph Office site, Mr Yogel refused to interfere with the arrangements of the Department, and as to obtaining the Hospital site it would involve complications. In any case Government would have to purchase or lease from the natives, which they were not disposed to dp. The interview with Nelson members was attended with similar results. Government will not budge from their proposals. All that could be conceded was to have a re-survey of the Foxhill and Brnnnerton Railway, but it is considered that the Government are not in earnest to construct the line through the proposed route. Mr Yogel absolutely re-, fused Mr O'Conor money for waterraces for Charleston, and remarked upon this singularity, that Mr O'Conor had asked the Minister of Public Works to support his proposal as a "personal favor "to himself, An attempt was made to induce the Premier to increase the special grant to Nelson from LSOOO to LI 0,000, but without effect. There is no chance of any Provincial loans being carried, and Mr Yogel spoke strongly upon the absurdity of Provincial Councils discussing the finances of the Colony, and passing resolutions as to borrowing money for harbor works.