THE EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1644, 25 February 1886, Page 2

THE EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

« From a fuller report of Sir Julius Vogel's speech m Auckland, now to hand, we get a clearer insight into the arguments used by him m favor of the construction of the East and West Coast Uailway. He told his audience that he did not wish to conceal anything, and ayowed himself distinctly m favor of the East and West Coast anl Nelson Railway. He did not think they had heard arguments m its favor. There had been great attempts made to prevent its discussion. A Committee to examine into it was refused. He contended that Auckland would specially benefit .by* communication being opened from Nelson to all parts of the Middle Island. The railway Bystems were undertaken on the basis of the trunk lines being completed. How could there be a trunk system if Marlboro ugh, Nelson, and "Westland were not connected with the rest of the Island ? It was no new idea of his. In 1880, when he was about to cease to be Agent-General, he placed on record his opinion that the Government were pledged to complete the trunk systems. Most careful investigations of the Public Works Department showed that the line would at 'once yield two per cent, and greatly aid existing lines m doing so. The railway would open to all some millions of acres of land of various kinds. It would also lead to discovery and increased production of gold, coal and timber. One block of sixty thousand acres alone was said to be worth half a million. The population to be directly benefited would be a third of that of the whole Colony. It would unite several great districts which would • exchange agricultural produce for gold and coal. On the Canterbury plains and m Christ church sea-carried coal could not compete with the coal the railways would bring. At the same time it might be worth considering whether, as the cost would be large, a portion of ifc without delaying the railway might be devolved on the immense land estate, which could be specially hypothecated, and part of the cost charged against it instead of against the consolidated revenue. ■He had dwelt on the railway because objections had ,been made to it,, and t he quoted the Hon. Mr Boweri's statement showing briefly but clearly its advantages. In the face of all this we have the pronounced opinion of our -member, Mr Macarthur, who, we understand, has a personal and accurate knowledge of the district referred and its resources, topographical features, &c, &c, that < the proposed r.ailway could not prove a* reproductive undertaking. In this case we would prefer Mr Macarthur' s disinterested opinion to all Sir Julius Vogel's special pleadings; the more especially as we cannot disabuse our minds of the impression ( a generally entertained one by the bye) that Sir Julius is personally and- directly interested m the proposed work, and that once it is sanctioned by Parliament, a substantial bonus will accrue to himselt.