The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, JULY 23, 1885. ANOTHER RAILWAY JOB.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2049, 23 July 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, JULY 23, 1885. ANOTHER RAILWAY JOB.

The shifts to which Sir Julius Vogel is driven are rather extraordinary. It would bo worth knowing under what circumstances lie obtained the fact's contained in the statement regarding the East and West Coast (Middle Island) and Nelson railway, which he placed before the House on Tuesday. Itseems unlikely thatthey came to Land by accident just at the time when the Government was at its wits' ends, and exceedingly anxious to do something that would please any section of the House. The railway line referred to is oup about which the Canterbury and West Coast members lire particularly anxious, and the great majority of them would be found willing to spend millions of public money upon it. The statement referred to, if not altogether of a pleasant nature, is calculated to put them into a corner. They would not like to see the line abandoned, \et to see it constructed they would either have to vote about £95,000 per annum to a company, or to assist in borrowing upwards of three millions. They are,. of course, prepared to do eilliPr, or to go; a- good deal further, but Sir Julius Vogel is in a position to tell them "that ■ the Government is not prepared to enter into any responsibility in connection with the line, aud he can use this in the way of a threat. If they do not support him he will not support their pet railway line, This particular line is about the biggest job that has ever been pro-

posed iii tb colony. The promoters declare that it would pay, yet they are not content with receiving» bonus in the shape of aliout a million and a half acres of land, for they now ask for a guarantee of a certain rate of interest besides, If the line were a necessity they could undoubtedly do what was done in. the case of the WellingtonManawatu line—form a local company, and take the risk of profit or loss. Canterbury men clamor for its construction, and its business men would not do amiss ifthey tooka leaf out of the book of those of Wellington. The latter urged the Government to construct the West Coast line, and the Government being unwilling, they took the matter into their own hands, without asking the Colony to incur any responsibility at all, It the Middle Island line is such a promising speculation it is surprising that capitalists carnot be found willing to take it up, especially with a bonus of a million and a half acres of land, If a private company cannot be found to take it up on those terms, then the Government of the colony should certainly not dream of it. The line opens very little useful country . It leads through the niost mountainous country in the Southern hemisphere, arid what good land there is, is within easy reach of the sea coast. The line|is simply being dangled before Parliament to catch votes, for even its strongest supporters must be fully aware that it can never pay working expenses, and that every penny of any guarantee that may be given would have to be paid,