INLAND COMMUNICATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 88, 12 April 1873, Page 5

INLAND COMMUNICATION.

-,'-■■ .•/■ — — o The following ja the memorandum submitted by the Nelson deputation for the consideration of the General Government, and Mr Vogel's reply thereto : — 1. Has the Government taken any steps to procure construction of the portion of the line intervening between Foxhill and Brunnerton in consideration of ' grants of land as provided for in sections 9 and 10 of the " Railways Act, 1870 ? " 2. If cot, does Government intend to ' take such steps, and do they see a probability of success ?. 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 r lease the portion of the line now under contract — namely, that from Brunnerton to Grey mouth, 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 bo, of what nature. Oswald Cubtis, Thomas Renwick, Joseph Shephakd, Albert Pitt. Wellington, April 4, 1873. TO THE MeMBEBS OF THE NELSON Deputation. Gentlemen — The Government have carefully considered the questions submittee 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 bo 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 Butler Valley proper -as may lie to the westward of a meridian drawn through the point of junction of the Inangahua River with the Buller. 6. The Government have to point out that the County of Westland has a substantial interest in the railway from Brunnerton to Greymouth, inasmuch as the coalmines on the Westland side are security for the railway; still it is not to be apprehended that any opposition will be offered to a work so obviously; for the benefit of Greymouth. : The Government will therefore be ready id; agreed tihat /"a^iljßMe'ipf^'alraUway^.from.' Brunnertoa to Greymouth shall be handed ; : ..^^jE3ompony|Biich ,is "tha^-prjpp^s^ ;.' : yin]ce^of^^ 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 coalfields 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 still remained liable for interest and sinking fund on the cost of the line. Before either of the lines was actually handed over to the Company, it would, of course, be necessary that there should be some assurance that it would be able to carry out its undertaking. 6. 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 Nelsoa 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 bis Honor the Superintendent, before leaving Wellington, to confer with the Attorney- General. I have, further to observe, that whilst the Government recognise the great value of the enterprise proopsed 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 extention to the north-eastern portion of the Province of Canterbury, so as to form heaeafter with the Canterbury northern railways, part of a trnnk line through the Middle Island. If the Company undertook such an extention, 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 inducement to such an extention, would, in addition to the land grants, agree to ask the Assembly (provided the extentions were constructed) to authorize a loan to the Company of the cost of the rails for the whole of the line, inclusive of extentioD; the rails purchased to be not less than forty pounds weight per yard. 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 Tepaid by a sinking-fund 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. <t I have &c, Julius Yogel General Government Office, Wellington April 9, 1873.