The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1882.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4252, 17 August 1882, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1882.

The Herald's Special Parlimentary Correspondent telegraphs :-—" Sir George Grey objected to the loan proposals of the Gorernment, but was prepared to rote for the second reading of the North Island Main Trunk Railway Bill, but it came on for second so late in the morning, that he, being unwell, was obliged to go home earlier in the evening to his hotel. He was asked to pair against it, but refused to do so. I may add that some Auckland members say that Auckland stands in peril of never having a penny of the million loan spent near it. They say there is, apparently, a serious oversight or blunder ;in the bill. Sir George Grey considered if (he Government were ousted, a much better Bill would have been secured, or the old Government would have returned to office again very speedily if justice was not done to the North. On the other hand, if the amendment was lost (which was the case) it was known that there would be a large majority for the second reading of the Bill, so that in in neither respect was the measure endangered." The Herald's correspondent is either a more sensible or much better informed man than that journal's thunder manufacturer. That message confirms the view that we expressed on the matter two evening's ago. It is just possible that even more advantageous terms for Auckland might have been obtained from from a new Ministry, and as for the Thames,^ we certainly could not have fared worse than under the present one. There seems., to be some apprehension relative to the clause which Major Atkinson allowed to be inserted in the North Island Loan Bill in Committee, to the effect that the money shall not be borrowed until the survey has been made and approved by Parliament. There probably is not much to fear under that head, for between negotiations with the natives and surveying pretty nearly a year would be consumed. If the work is commenced within twelve or eighteen months, the colony may be very thankful. On the other hand, it is advisable that the selecj tion of the route may be open to revision !by the Assembly. Of course the source of danger is thought to be that the Southerners may thwart the scheme after their own vote has been passed and works are well under way. It is unlikely that eren Mr Macandrew will have nerve, or rather indiscretion, enough for that. Such a breach of good faith would not be tolerated, and to attempt it would simply lead to an agitation for separation, and were the Southerners successful, separation would be the inevitable result. It must be borne in mind that this railway was projected while Mr Macandrew was Minuter for Public Works, and that very few Southern members are—at least openly—hostile to it. In an article yes*

terday, the Herald once more attemptis to to vie with Ananias. It says :—"■ If the Government do not succeed in passing the Bill (and they have had one narrow escape, arising from the inexplicable corduct of half of our own members), the Government had perhaps better give up all idea of attempting to open the King Country." True, the Government had a narrow escape of not passing the Bill, because the Government was nearly ousted from, office. But it was not aa the Herald insinuates, that one half the Auckland members opposed the Bill, for nearly all of them supported it. It is lamentable to find persons iv the position of instructors and guides of the public so unscrupulously stating what is untrue. What is inexplicable to the Herald is, that one half the members choose not to bow the neck to him to whom it is so subservient. Any Government formed, if it undertook to borrow, would have been compelled to make provision for this work by these very Auckland members whom the Herald pretends not to understand.