PARLIAMENTARY.

Kumara Times, Issue 3014, 1 July 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

THE GREYMOUTHHOKtTIKA RAILWAY. THE EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION ACT AMENDMENT BILL. [from our own correspondent.] Wellington, June 30. In a leader in the New Zealand Times this morning on the Public Works Statement, the following paragraph appears : "Ibis generally believed that there will be a strenuous effort to throw out the Blenheim-Tophouse (£100,000), Westport-Greyrnouth (£75,000), and possibly the Hokitika - Greymouth (£100,000) lines, and divide the £75,000 among other works, including the Otago Central, and the Woodville, Palmerston, and North Auckland railways." Your readers will, therefore, understand that the Westland representatives have their work cut out to circumvent the combiuation said by the Times to exist. This morning Messrs Seddon, Bonar, and Bevan received from Mr Tait, Vice-President of the Hokitika Railway League, the following telegram : " At a crowded meeting of the Railway League, it was resolved that this meeting greatly regrets that a survey is ordered of the Chesterfield deviation of the Hokitika-Greymoutli Railway, and desire to say that it is of opinion that the construction of a lino via that route would be a fatal mistake, and the League most earnestly hopes that the beach line will bo prosecuted with all speed, without further stoppage or delay." The counter agitation of the League agiinst the Kumnra connection cannot possibly alter matters. The Minister of Public Works having agreed' to the survey, the Government are in good faith bound to give effect to the pobli<w works. Without expressing an at all on the selfishness of a few persons in Hokitika, the general opinion here is for them to let well alone, otherwise " the dog, the bone, and the shadow," may be re-enacted. If the people cannot agree, their representatives are likely to follow this example. If the Hokitika Railway League prefers money being spent on the Otago Central to having Kuinara connected by railway with Hokitika, let them press on their objections; the Otago members will not object. Another West Coast free fight is all that is wanted to throw the vote out altogether. July 1. The Bast and West Coast Railway Construction Act Amendment Bill passed through Committee last evening. The only amendment made was a provision by Mr Seddon, to the effect that auriferous lands should not be declared select. The majority in favour of the bill was not less than 13.