THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 282, 18 July 1888, Page 4

THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

The feature of last evening's sitting was the motion for the committal of'Mr Pykes Ocago Central Railway Bill. This was met by an amendment proposed by Mr John McKenzio, that its committal be deferred for six months. The opponents of the measure argued that the land i grant system for railway construction was a mistake, that the line would only be required as far as Middlemarch for many years, and that the evidence taken before the Waste Lando Committee fully justified the Committee's finding that the Bill bo not allowed to proceed. The Minister for Mines denied that Government were supporting the measure, and said that this- erroneous impression was based on tho promise of the AttorneyGeneral la*b session to draft a Bill during the recess, and to pilot it through the Legislative Council. The Bill was supported by Dr. Fitchett, Messrs Kerr, Hodgkinson and Taylor, and was opposed by Messrs Fish, R. Thompson, \Vifchy, and Sir Gcoige Grey. The committal of the Bill was carried by 47 to 17. STONEWALLING IN COMMITTEE. Practically the whole of the evening bitting was occupied with an intciesting and amnsino political battle between Obago and Auckland members. Mr Pyke foughc hard to get his Otago Central Railway Bill through Committee, and Messrs R. Thompson and tiobbs, mindful of the short shrift given to the Kamo-K.awaka.wa Bill, obstiucted the Ottigo measuie tooth and nail. The hostile forces were leally led by Sir G. Grey, who objected to the alienation of this tract of land, and who therefore opposed the measure on principle He was in his best form, and made speech after speech with all hie- old Jiie and spirit. He was eloquent, satirical and amusing by turns, and the galleiics enjoyed the fun immensely. Amongst the other members who were most prominent in opposition to tho measure were Messrs Monk, Goldie and Marchant, and also two Otago membcis, Fish and McKenzie, who \\ ere strongly opposed to the Bill. The discussion hinged on the second clause, which named six gentlemen as the syndicate of contrjctois, the hostile speakers holding thit the contract should be open for competition. Mi Pyke appealed to members, argued with them, and denounced their | ol>b true the tactics, but all to no purpose. He declaied that if the Bill weie not passed this session the whole of the people in the interior of Otago would leave the country. The obstructionists, however, only smiled sceptically. Mr Pyke said he had imploied the six gentlemen named in the clause to allow their name>-> to be placed there, because the Attorney-General had said some names must be given. Mr R. Thompson objected to this as a pernicious form of dummyism, and Mr Pyke anguly protested against the application of the woid " dummies '' to the gentlemen named. At 1 o'clock, Mr Pyke offered to repoit progre^ if his opponents Mould Hi st pass the second clause of the Bill. Se\eial unsuccessful elioits had been made to adjourn the debate and report pi ogress. At 1.45, Mr Fish was urging the House to accept the compromise offered by Mr Py^c, but Sir George Grey, Mr Thompson and others would not consentStonewalling tactics on the Bill were continued until a quarter to three this morning. Sir George (Jrey and Mr R. Thompson appealed sarcastically to the Go- \ vnnmentto know if they accepted the responsibility of the Bill, but the Ministry, represented by Messrs Fergus, Hislop, and JMchardson, treated the queries with supi eme indifleience. Mr Pyke \\at> occasionally ielie\eci by Mr B.uron foi biiefspellfc. E\entualh, the ofter of Mr Pyke to report ' progie s s when clause two was dealt with was accepted by the Ministry. The clause was carried by 21 to 12. I'logicsS was reported immediately before three, although y]y 11ec\cs and Di. Fitchett objected.