Railway to Auckland.

Patea Mail, 28 January 1882, Page 3

Railway to Auckland.

DEPUTATION TO PREMIER. (PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) New Plymouth, 27th.—A special and influential deputation waited on the Premier this afternoon, when the Mayor congratulated Government on the able way they had settled the Parihaka difficulty. They had waited on him, however, concerning the opening of the railway between New Plymouth and 'Auckland. Mr Standish urged that the present time was most favorable for having a survey done, and the land dealt with between Mokan and Alexandra. It would also have the effect of opening up rich country. It was also believed that the present time was most favorable, on account of the state of the native mind both in Taranaki and Auckland, as the natives had an evident desire to open up the country. The Hon. Mr Hall thanked them for the manner in which they had referred to the action of the Government on the West Coast, and assured the deputation that it was a time of great anxiety, and although it might be a sanguine view to take that the native difficulty had been settled, he did not think it would be beyond the truth to say it was a real settlement of the difficulty unless disturbance was brought about by their indiscretion or bad judgment. In regard to the opening up of the railway connecting the north and south parts of this island, the deputation were of course aware that funds are not in hand for a work of such magnitude, but he could state that it was a work with the importance of which the Government were impressed. The completion of the arterial railway lines was an object which the Government would do their utmost to promote, and it was an object for which the colony would be quite justified in going into the market to raise another loan, when the conditions had been fulfilled with regard to the raising of the last loan. He thought that the deputation would recognise that it was his duty to speak with a considerable amount of reserve, as his statements would be read by everyone, and might have the effect of postponing the time when they could actually undertake such work. He was fully impressed with the importance of the work which the deputation urged should be done, and there was none to which the attention of the Government and the Minister of Public Works has been more steadily directed, but he thought that to be premature, or to unduly urge a work of the kind, would have the effect of rendering the carrying out very difficult, and possibly create another native difficulty. Therefore, it was the duty of the Government to be very discreet, not only in what they did, but in what any member of the Ministry said. For that reason, he would not say more than that the attention of Government was directed to the importance of the work, and they might depend upon them in doing their best to promote it. Mr Staudish urged that the present time was most favorable, and, instead of delaying the work, it should be gone on with, or the good effect on the native mind produced by recent events might go off. Mr Hall said that was quite true, but it was obvious at present that there was great difficulty to be apprehended with regard to the natives if the matter was unduly pressed. The Premier visited the harbor works, and seemed pleased with all he saw. Ho goes to the White Cliffs to-morrow, and leaves for Auckland by the mail steamer on Monday.

To meet growing requirements, the Otago Railway Department have resolved on supplementing their present stock by adding to it about 20 large cars, built on the American principle. The cars will be made in the colony.