THE Marlborough Express SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 1868.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 96, 11 January 1868, Page 3

THE Marlborough Express

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 1868.

“ Givr mu the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freelv according to conscience, above ail other liberties.” —Milton.

An article which appeared in the Picton Press last week, renders a few additional remarks necessary from us, with respect to Mr. W. L. Whey’s letter, and the much desired picton and Blenheim Railway scheme.

We pass over the hypothetical case put and dispelled by-6ur contemporary, as one very unlikely to happen. Indeed, we stated when publishing the letter, that we had

reason to believe that the desired concession had been, or would be sent to Mr. Wrey, and the writer of the article therefore only raises the supposition for the purpose of declaring what “ a storm would be raised, one which would shake the foundations of a stronger Government than has ever yet reigned in this Province,” were it not given; and it will be satisfactory, at least to the writer, when we assure him that this fancied danger has been averted, since a concession has been granted to Mr. Wrey, including those who may he associated with him in the enterprise, which will remain in force until the end of the current year, 18G8. Much of the article is based on wrong premises, the writer saying that Mr. Wrey “requests the Government to grant to himself any land over which the railway will pass,” while the letter itself adds the words, “ the same being Crown Land.” It proceeds to lay down a scheme in which the owners of Private lands are supposed to present the portions required for the line, free of charge, in consideration of the enhanced value of the remainder, resulting from the railway operations ! One of the largest owners on the originally proposed line is stated to be willing to act upon this hypothesis, and it is supposed that others will be influenced largely ; but the small owners are the difficulty, and here we can agree with him. These persons, possessing but building allotments, or small paddock sections, will not be easily dealt with. For if the Company was to take only the slice required, of what value would be the remainder ? Or, if it would buy the whole section, the owner might not care to be turned out of the homestead he has for years been laboriously forming. Our contemporary is “ unable to say what powers are possessed by Government, relative to taking land for works of public utility ;” and speculating upon the dilemma in which the Provincial Government (!) will be placed by the assumed difficulty, assures us that—

“The obstruction need be but temporary, and if the Government are in the least earnest, ovan xioua to promote the success of Mr. Wrey and his scheme, they will find a way to overcome greater difficulties than any yet apparent.” We arc then reminded that—

“Places, as well as people, have a turning point in their career, and we assume the time has now arrived when the action of the Provincial Government will either make or mar the fortunes of Marlborough and the people in it.” What will be said then when we inform the writer that the Government lias not even the power to grant Grown Lands ! The Waste Land Act 1867, effectually prevents such a mode of dealing with them. Should the land to be traversed by tire railway, remain Grown land until the line is decided on and commenced, the Government can only agree to purchase such land from the Crown, and convey it to the Company. But if any such land be applied for in the meantime, the Government may reserve it under the new powers given by clauses 50 to 59. Those lands which have been already ci'eated reserves, and granted to the Superintendent, can only be dealt with bv Act of the Provincial Council, and it will be satisfactory to those readers who have seen the article under notice, to know that the Government has conveyed to Mr. Wrey an assurance that it will assist the scheme in these respects as far as lies in its power. With respect to Private Lands, a specific mode of acquiring them is provided by the Picton and Blenheim Railway Act, 1865, by which the Company will be enabled to take private lands over which the line of railway will pass, the owners of which would receive compensation under the Land Clauses Consolidation Act of 1863. Additional powers for acquiring private lands, have been also given to Companies engaged on works of a public nature, by the Provincial Compulsory Land Taking Act, 1866. It will thus be seen that the only legal course entirely obviates the difficulty raised by our contemporary, and so removes the great responsibility fixed by him upon the Government. Mr. Wrey, from the tenor of his letter, appears to be well aware of this, since he only asks for Crown Lands.

Our contemporary is sanguine enough to “hope for the best, and expects on next New Year’s Day to have to announce that the Picton and Blenheim Railway is approaching completion and will be open for traffic towards the end of the incoming year !”

May he not meet with disappointment! But by what magical process this much desired-result is to be performed, we cannot even guess, since much time will be required to conduct the 1 preliminary arrangements before the first sod can be

turned, but if Jiot commenced before Oct. 1870, the Act will become void. We trust these hopes will not be thwarted for another reason. Wc are aware that the Government were about to invite proposals, in accordance with the wish ol the Council, for the erection of the Wairau Bridge, when Mr. Wrey’s letter arrived, which induced them to abandon such intention. as it would be obviously useless, if the slightest chance of forming such a Company exists ; since the sth clause ot the Bail way Act referred to, gives such Company power to erect a bridge at, or near the site of the present Ferry ; and the most earnest advocates for a bridge would scarcely dream of erecting one for the benefit of shareholders in the railway, all of whom, or nearly so, would be absentees, investing capital here, the profits ol which would be spent at Home.