THE RAILWAY.

Southland Times, Issue 1116, 1 March 1869, Page 2

THE RAILWAY.

(TO TnE EDITOR OF THE =>■ iUTIIL.VXD TIJIHS.) Sir, — As the editor of the newspaper which so ably supported the railway scheme an the time of rh-.i l.i-t <2vnerai election, I would now ask you if you can «ive the public any information to 1 what is intended to be done by the Government. I woul I not h>.v- 1 to .nake such an inquiry weiv the l']>: c.ihve a little more open in their action.-?, iiut. reti- ■ eeuce seems to be the great e'ninu-teristic 1 of the nenlleman \v')> is supposed to be at the head of the GowmmiMit, per.iaps ' iiivlei 1 tiie mistaken ide-\ liial it adds to 1 his importance with too j)ii : «iie. At the ear] v mee-iin^s or' 1 !r^ Association for suppoTtiii'i the raiKv.v s/heme. Mr Bhu-kloL'k 'not r!-,en in oili •••) joined as one of the members, and fr>:n motives of dvdi.-acs' w.i-; nit ■ x ;•' n it-. 1 . Through their i-xi-rtions no was rut i:"v ■>!, , and he w.i.s only g'.id to have sueii a body to C me to for ailviee, and at any future time to exphin his a'.-ii"n>, but siii"-" he was iv-aj)poi!Ued I'lVi-urer is.-s conduct his been as it was formerly, — secret. Is lha.t tre;i' U-m. m so blind that- lie can stiil iirii)ilwi:il-. niu t'li'finr.'!. and aiv we not all i'ti'dv a-vure Mia': iiis apparent su,)]iort oi I'aii'.vav c\"e iS!;i,i was only a sha-i] — a new shnirl — i>y v.hich h-.- wonl 1 be enablrd to lv.ti un i:i i-lllee and co.itinne to dr v.' ins not taa 1 ,. I would s.iv the a'liounn di -a!:ry is oil' - raucous, !;ni: what .i niiir;;.; d >js i le e mtinu r eiu*\' \o:e open to v cice:' linaneieV: ! Aflei" mue'i fxiiMi-p ami debiv ien-iers liavi' hi en tw.'ce ad'.'er ( i>c 1 i\'V J'he coin pleii mo ' ! : ie Xoriiici'ii iin ■ <d' rnhviy and i.ii'^" s:ini c> 'at ou: o^ tae [■ > r;>v:in'e for i ile i)U!\-lia-e ol' ma: 'M-iai. Cont ra.-t ors In; vc b'T-ii 'n''ouj;iv iiciv iron \arons mrlsof Xciv Z ;ii . ml eniy to i>e ti■ i M ■ . 1 wilii. lr now ie.iks oiii ; ha! a!'". i f <me of 1.-iese tenders nas ijeen aeet'pted at a very low sum, ami me ian 1 hv lh.f Geiieral (xovecti-iient, rirr l In; w'io!e arr iii^einent is to be overrhrowu b^eiuse progress pavsiieills will ii'ii !).• allowed. I'roiiablv i iiis is aceui'diiij; to the. strict readi'i^ of the .iiher. i -i-inen! , bni. ihe. i !xi>i"ii; ivi; has iioi; always ijeeu s,> slru-r. Pro.Ti'ti^ p:\viih.!Hl:m have been ailo^ve I on at loist two previous occasions when land was as pay.uenr f r work v -rfor-n d, L allude to the com; let ion of the Hiui'f Harbor and LnercariM:! Kiinv..v. \ ne, iale alteration (f ihe i.ne of raiiwav \\\ua Lvew to liiV; tvar^iil. It may iiiieiy be asserted t'-.at i'l'-re is tscarceiv a contractor in Ne.v Z aland who could undertake such a work as this without progress payments, and, ill fact, the idea, is unprecedented. A^aiti, a deal of indignation was cxpresse.il last ."•>t-i)i ember at the manner in which contractors weie treated by tueii' tenders not being formally oj)eued

on the day specified. This is a duty invariably 'performed by the Executive in ofluV provinces, it therefore argues l.adly for the self respect of the Treasurer an 1 i-AecLitive here that tenders sent in ;uv.ordii)£ to advertisement were not opene.l by them at the time named. They must surely have bad a conscious fcfiiiiL; of want' of condlenee on the part, of the public when they would not accept this responsibility. True there was a :uoi ion passed in Council forbidding tlio.ri ;o iircrpt any tender without the d.-ii: -oration and sanction of the Council nut if; never uv.s intended tbat they shnuU not be. intrusted with the mere o-Huiiii^ of tenders. Their conduct in this mater, besides having a very mean and abject appearance, has beeu the cause of ;m!t'inu; ('he Province to a vast expense, .-i!id b.-foro Muished, will probably cost us I J2OO ). 1 allude to what is known as the • tender scandal," which could not have occurred if the Executive had only done 1 heir duty iv a rftraightforward aud manly way. t have confined my remarks to Mr Blacklock's conduct principally, as the rii:y.-mt youiiLT gentlemen who shares ■.vnii him' the duties of the Executive is of t>olitr!e consequence, though perhaps his plastic character may render hitn ot singular use to those in power. It is a pity, however, if his youthful ardour and iiiiiis.-reliou should be the means of robhiuif ihe Province of the services of alder and move experienced men. — I remain, . v ir, <S:c, A Couxtry "F.lectou.