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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 18, 21 January 1879, Page 4

THE NELSON CITY ELECTION. TO THE ELECTORS OF THE CITY OF NELSON.

GENTLE MEN,— I have the honor to request your perusal of the following copies of correspondence in May, 1873, between the Colonial Government and a deputation from the Inland Communication Committee of Nelson (of which I was a member), respecting the proposed Railway from Eox Hill to Brunnertou. I respectfully beg to remind you that it was through the exertions of that deputation, and the subsequent action ot the Nelson Provincial Council and the Nelson Representatives in the General Assembly, that such proposed Railway was provided, by " The Railways Act, 1873," to be constructed by the Government of New Zealand as part of the Trunk Line of the Middle Island. I would further remind you. that through what was so done in 1873, Representatives in the General Assembly in 1878 were enabled so successfully to resist the injustice attempted upon Nelson by the Hon. Mr Macandrew's Public Works scheme ol that year. I also append copies of two speeches made by me at public meetings in Nelson, in reference to the said proposed railway. Tour obedient servant, ALBERT PITT. Nelson, January 15, 1879. FOX HILL AND BRUNNERTON RAILWAY.

Memorandum for consideration of Government, submitted by the deputation from the Inland Communication Committee of Nelson. The Committee — having carefully considered the suggestion made by the Hon. Mr Vogel, in his letter of April 9th last, that the proposal for a railway from Fox Hill to Brunnerton should include a branch or extension to the north-eastern boundary of the Province of Canterbury, and that the Government of that Province might in that ease recommend a grant of land as a subsidy — despatched the undersigned to confer with the authorities of Canterbury upon the subject. From the memoranda which passed between the Superintendent of Canterbury and the deputation, copies of which are enclosed herewith, the Government will see that the Government of Canterbury are not prepared to recommend a grant either of land or money by way of subsidy to the suggested extension ; but, as the question will be referred on the motion of the Provincial Government to a Select Committee of the Provincial Council, it would be premature to conclude that no encouragement will be offered by that body to a work which would tend so greatly to the advantage of the Province of Canterbury. Iu the meantime, while fully appreciating the value of Mr Vogel's suggestions, both from a colonial and a provincial point of view, the deputation feel that no time should l>e lost in securing the construction of the main line from Fox Hill to Brunnerton, in which the people of the Province of Nelson are so deeply interested. The Government have already been informed that the Inland Committee have recommended the formation of a Company, with a capital sufficient to construct the line in the least expensive manner possible, with rails of 30lbs per yard only. The Hod. Mr Vogel makes it a condition of assistance to the Company that the rails should be of the weight of 40lbs per yard— thus indicating, not only a considerably larger cost for rails than that contemplated by the Committee, but also a higher character of work throughout, and a consequent material addition to the proposed capital or liabilities of the Company. Under these circumstances the Deputation are anxious to obtain the assent of the Government to an alternative proposition, in order that they may be in a position to place it before the Committee on their return to Nelson. The Deputation therefore beg leave to ask the Government if they will consent, in the event of their receiving an application to that effect from the Superintendent and the Provincial Council, to ask the assent of the General Assembly to a bill authorising the raising of a loan on behalf of the Province of Nelson to the extent of £560,000, ou condition that the Province gives special security, by making over to the Colony land, within the watershed of the valleys through which the line will pass, at the rate of 10,000 acres for each mile of railway, or of each £4000 of the sum to be borrowed, making a total of 1,400,000 acres, in addition to a lien upon the line itself; and the usual securities upon the revenues of the Province. The length of the line, as nearly as can be estimated without a working survey, will be 140 miles, and the Deputation are convinced that the sum of £4000 per mile will be found to be ample for the construction of a line of 3 feet 6iu gauge with 401b rails. In confirmation of this estimate, they beg to refer the Government to the report of the Committee which has already been placed in their hands, and to the report of Mr Wrigg, C.E., based upon a preliminary survey of the line executed by him, by order of the Provincial Government, and published in the Nelson Government Gazette, No. 21, of April 23, 1868. Mr Wrigg's estimate of £4210 per mile, it should be observed, was inclusive of a branch from the Inangahua to Westport, not included in the present proposal, which presents considerable engineering difficulties, and would be very much more costly in construction per mile than the line between Fox Hill and Brunnertou. It also included the portions of the line^ now under contract between Nelson and Fox Hill, and Brunnerton and Greymouth (Cobden). (Signed) Oswald Cbths, Alex. Sclanders, Albeht Pitt, Wellington, May 20, 1873. The Honorable Julius Vogel to his Honor O. Cubtis, Esq., M.H.R. ; Alexander Scl axders, Esq.; Albert Pitt, Esq. Gentlemen — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your memo, respecting the railway from Fox Hill to Brunnerton, and to state that I have brought it under the notice of the Cabinet. The question to which it is understood you desire the Government to reply is whether, in the event of their receiving an application to that effect from the Superintendent and the Provincial Council of Nelson, they will ask the assent of the General Assembly to a bill authorising the raising of a loan of £560,000, on behalf of the Province, for the construction of a railway from Fox Hill to the Brunner, on condition that the Province gives special security for the same, by making over to the Colony 1,400,000 acres of land, in addition to giving a lien on