OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 287, 4 August 1888, Page 4

OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

Wllum.-ioNj July 31. No decision had been come Lo with logaid Lo the OtagoCential L'ailuay difficulty when the House met yesteiday afternoon. The suppoitersofthe Bill at oncemoved to rcpoit progiess with lcn\ c to sitauain on the following night, it being their opinion that in the meantime the mea^uie could b^ so amoi.ded ab to become gen ei ally acceptable to the lioubC. in the coin-o of the desultory dibeu&bion which endued, Mr Fibh said that the membei foi Dunedin Cential had told him on the previous evening bhafc he was. opposed to a syndicate. The speaker also a&bcited that those Dunedin membeis ho woic suppoitmg the proposal tor a syndicate wjie not consulting the wishes of their constituents, as would be shown it a plebiscite were taken. Dr. Fitchettieplied that he had always said I that what he supremely desired was the railway, and that he would accept any means ot getting it. He preferred its construction by the Govern men fc, but failing that he would accept the syndicate. ° Mr John McKenue alluded to the meeting of members held that forenoon as a "packed" one, which elicited from Mr Pyke the reply that all those fa\ouiablo to his Bill had been invited to attend, with a view to prevent turthei lighting on the question on the floor of the House. He askeu for an adjournment bill the following night. He assiued the hon. niembc & that lie was doing an ay with the objectionable fcatuies of the Bill, and if the motion to report progress were carried the House could go on with Government business. The di&cuasion was seemingly at an end, when Mr Scddon reminded the Premier" of hib threat on Friday night not to undeitake any Government bueinosb till this question was disposed of. He was showing inconsibtuncy in now pioposing to go on with other bills. The Pivmiei retorted that the Government wished to get on with public business. The Government w ere ot opinion that public business would never be gob on with if a minoiifcy wex-e allowed to ride rough-shod over the majoi ity ; but it had now been represented that if twenty -lour hoius were given, and theiequest came nob fi om the stoncwallcr^ but from the majoi ity, the Bill could be so modified as to aatibiy both t-ide^, and under the encumstances he thought the delay should be giunted. As head of the Government, he had been pieparcd to explain the view.- of the Cabinet, but the whole aspect of the case had been altcicd by the proposal to amend the Bill. It the stonewall wcie continued on the following night, it would be necessary to let strong argument be supplanted by physical endurance. Mr Taylor, having explained that if theie was any gieat deviation from the Bill as originally introduced, he could not continue to suppoit it, the motion that progress be leported was agreed to.

THE NEW PROPOSALS. The proposed amendments, I understand", aic shortly these: That the line shall go as far as Clyde or Alexandra, being 70 miles from Lake 1 Inwea, as proposed in the Bill. That it shall be constiucted by a syndicate, and that it shall be optional with the Committee to decide whether the names now proposed shall stand or whether the names .shall bo left blank. That the conditions of settlement in regard to the disposal of the lands as defined by the Sur-voyor-Goneral shall be insisted on.

THE CAUCUS. The following are the details of the caucus held yesterday afternoon : Dr. Fitebott moved, and Mr Bruce seconded', " That the line be constructed by the Government to a terminus to be hereafter agreed on, funds to be furnished from rents and salesof Crown lands in the district." Mr W. lleeves moved, and Di\ Hodgkinson seconded, as an amendment, "That this meeting will continue lo support the Bill as introduced by Mr Pyke, subject to such modiheations as may be agreed to by the majority ot the Bill's suppoi ters. " The amendment was put and carried, with only

four dissenting. Ib was then put as a substantive aiobion, and carried unanimously. Dr. Fifcciiett stated that as the meeting had determined against, the construction of the 11 le by the Government, he would stand by fche Bill as the only possible alternative. Wellington, ' August I,* The fight on the Otago Central Railway Bill was 1 caomcd last n i rh t. '1 he r, tinier, in stati itr Ihe intention of the Govoi 'meat, submitted oVO nl ei.wtne jnopomMo tho House: (1) That he and tho Minister . r ur Public Works shon'd \isio tho disn-icb i i the recess aid leporb ne.t bess'on as t • whether the line should go i'unh«->r, and (2) that the (iovenmienfc take up the Eill or substitute another enabling them Lo ente.- i no a contract with any Compa ly willing to extend fie li ie 10 Clyde, giv. :r: r them Ino in l'en of Is .d grant a portion of the Government line up to Middlemarch to the extent of 50 | i ■ j C3nt. of the cost of the extension tj Cl\dt\ In either case the Co\ eminent would undei - take to complete the r>ne I j Middlen aiv'i as quickly as possible. He asked the House to vote ior his motion toiepoib progiess i they approved of hi*, hrs.t j.iopo al.a 1 . If the motion were lost he would move that tho Government take up the Bill with the view of testing the feeling on tin-, point. Mr Tyke said he had his insti actions tiom t l ie supporters of the Bill. By the resolutions of the meeting ot member:? he would stand or fall. Siv John HaU -aid the i. x »ls of tho BUI lequi ed time io oon&idei iae Pieai'tv'o proposals, one of which Wa* q. Lj new. lie moved, " That> srrren iep.ui.ug inuguss, leave be asked to sit again." Sir George Grey, who had iu.'iuurly stonewalled theßill, appioved of rhe Hist ]>ioposal of tho Government, a 4a 4 - all that ho in i contended for \va< now yielded. Mr Barron pointed out that the evieasion to Middlemaich was no new concession, as it was promised in the last Pab'ic Works Statement. He was dissatisfi. A with the proposal lo s like out the la-id grant, but would loyally lollow Mr Pyke whichever course he took. Mr Downie Stewart suppoited Sir John Hall's proposal. Dr. Fitchett th upht it significant that opponents of the Bill were delighted with the proposals of Government, who were, in fact, paltering with bhe question. It was an insult to the district lor Ministers to propose at this late hour to \isit tho neighbourhood. The Premier expressed surpiise at the attitude of Messrs Fitchett and Pyke, and pointed out that the Government ueie offering special advantages to this part. For instance, the North Island trunk line had been stopped, yet the Otago Oential was to go on. The desire of the Government was to bring about a peaceful issue, and if there \\ as a general desire to postpone the question they would not object. Mr Pyke saw no good in dallying over the mattei from day to day, and wished to settle it as soon as possible. Having got so far with the matter, he was inclined to push lhe Bill further, conceding nothing:. To report mog ess would be to kill the Bill altogether^ and he would certainly not agree to it. Mr W. J. Steward suggested, after much further discussion, that Sir J. Hall's amendment be withdrawn, and that the Government be requested to proceed with the K.iilway Bill this session in terms of the second proposal. Mr Pyke asked the House to distinctly understand that members who went into the lobby to repoit piogress would "alt upon " the Bill. Mr Turnbull urged Mr Pyke to accept the Premier's hrst proposition. Mr Pyke warmly declared that he would not do so. He had fought for the la=t twelve years in the endeavour to get this part of Otago populated, and if he now failed he would never attempt it again. He would certainly vote against the Premier's proposal. After further discussion, the motion to report progi ess was about to be pin, when it was proposed to adti the words "with leave to sil. again." This was negatived on the voices. Dr. Fitchett wished ta add to the motion. *'and that the Government be requested to amend and proceed with the Bill for the construction of the railway in terms of their second resolution," but the necessary leave was refused. Mr Pyke uppealed to the Committee to negative the proposal foi leporting progress, find not to compel the majority to defer to the Premier's \\ ill. The motion for reporting prcgresb was. carried by 28 to 24, and Mr Pykes Bill was thus disposed of. The whole of the Ministers and every Auckland members save Mr Whyte voted for reporting progress. On the motion for the adjournment of the House, Mr Pyke said the Government had by their action taken the Biff into their own hands, and on their heads be it. Mr Speaker said be could not allow a reference to a past debate,, and theiefoie ruled him oat ot order. Mr Pyke said he would simply have tj move the adjournment of bhe House next day to speak on every subject he chose. The Speaker : Except a pa^t debate. The Eouse lose at 12.35 a.m. Mr Pyke said that he wouLi on a futuie occasion speak his will, and left the House ejaculating chat he would no longer support the Government.