OUR LOCAL RAILWAY.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3304, 24 July 1879, Page 2

OUR LOCAL RAILWAY.

The Action of "fee Opposition.

Mr Richardson, Minister of Works in the late Ministry, moved in the House , yesterday that it is expedient the House be informed (1) whether the conditions attached to clause three of the Railway Construction Act, 1878, had been com* plied with in respect of the railway from the vYaikatq to.jthe Thame^J2^ if the plans and estimates, witli a certificate from the Chief JEugineer* that the route chosen for the 'Railway 1 was the best available, was submitted to the Gojrficjttr in Council; (3) when, the approval of the Governor' *iii:!;< Council was given; and (4) what contracts have been. let on this railway, and the date on w,hjch the same were let. This. mover saidykjt year ho asked this question, and was'not satisfied, arid he considered^ it of imoortauce.' He then moved that uVfciSney be expended until an approprutipPjfljas made by the House, and in face of this he cen tended that the lineinquesuofljbacjl^een commenced. Thelline brought forward was to v ther, head of• the^nayjgftM&yiA Omahu, and no extension beyond that had been brought before the Home, or any rotetaken for the same in las^year's Public Works Statement. It was for 30 miles, and Ministers said it wat~tho-only line which they had accurate data to go upon; it was i fo> tidst^l6B,Q()o, and the only other statement was when the f/Ministee ; ■ for viPublie jjWpj&a# «e----ferred to the benefit ofthese 'railways, and said additional value, would be givon to the lands'of the Thames by the extension of the line from Grahamstown to Waikato. In theYeport of Mr Stewart, the engineer, it was said, that £he length would*be BO miles-,' and' the' te-rmftfus^at Te Aroha, and, he., concluded,. by stating the cost would lie £178100:)* including the branch to Hamilton. The only other report was by Mr Simpson in 1873; being the Result pf, <a* petition,fr,opi the Superintendent of Auckland, lv respghje. to which a survey was ordered. Mr Simpson ,vyas instructed to make it fr.Qni.tjhe head of' tlie nagivation. The led to believe .when voting the £178,000 that it was for a line' from thence to Waikato. They now contended that con* tracts had been let for workVsSme oft miles away from the line jntended,Jind tha country committed to aline of 60miles instead of 30, ,at a c.ost oi^on^e,,£4^)J^QQ^ instead of the sum voted, £176,060. He also asked how the line became alterad^n the pian, without the consent of the House. There was an Amendment Act introduced but they were told it was only of a technical character. They were now toldtft was to give Ministers power to make any line they thought proper. He looked upon this as exceeding <the[powers jfiiMA by the House,, and as very reprehensible —Mr McLean thought the Premier oF the Colony would'have felt called upon to offer some explanation as to this '•happy; yalley" wajr;for .hjsffons^iytrt* It woi^lfi.be, simple,,enough^" ( to.answer without waiting for plans and papers. He voted for the line'to Te Aroha, not because he thought it would t^'i'ipfcyibj railway, but to settle native difficWfißfil accordance with'the'policy of the IkTe'B^ ; D. McLean. But t^ have the H^o^l^ ( at defiance for this railway was / no^ri^t merely to, fulfil the Premier's^'d^eam,^ happiness for this valley. If they f> wUj»M to do a kindness to the Tliamef'jeii^flj Premier take steps to assist iiie^f^ret their pumps, and then lie would receive their thanks. If the line Jiad,,been made toTe Arqh'a'it'would have been equaUy serviceable' to the: Thamessibecause vit would Rive them communibstion iwitljfg navjgablo river. He hoped > no railway would be made without the sanction of that House. He did not care if ifc^ paid or not, so long as it received "the'TuTT sanction; of that House. H^ hoped,la. have an answer to "the question withdn reference to the plans, and without setting them at defiance.—Xh^e Hon J. Maoand re w said the information would be supplied in the Public Works statement, I when- besought j it |WOujd : ,b^s(««^tUat j the* statements of the last speaker were a myth. He would not deal with the matter until then.; .The, wprj^. was quite j legal, and authorised ' under Wo Acts. | The whole objection, was,a, fajce, as would jbe seen when the plans and statement i-were laid before tbe House.