The Westport Times. SATURDAY, JULY 23, 1870.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 688, 23 July 1870, Page 2

The Westport Times. SATURDAY, JULY 23, 1870.

A telegham from our Wellington correspondent suggests the desirability of agitating the necessity of constructing a line of railway for the opening up of the Mount liochfort coal fields. The large sum, that it is proposed by the General Government to expend in the construction of railways, renders it extremely probable that a proper representation of the immediate and certain advantages, that would accrue to the colony by the development of these coal-fields, would be successful. And if it were not for the fact that these mines are included in the bonus offered to an English company to construct a line from Nelson to Cobden, there would be a reasonable likelihood of the Assembly authorising the construction, at as early a moment as practicable, of that which may be, and is, regarded as an essentially reproductive work. The same difficulty, however, which met the application of a proposed company some time back for a grant of the coalfields, would present itself in asking the Assembly to give the matter its favorable consideration. The Assembly could only undertake the construction of a railway conditionally upon some arrangement being entered into with the Nelson and Cobdeu .Railway Company, under which the mines would cease to form parcel of the agreement, or, what is more probable, the company declining to carry out the agreement with the province. There is also the possible contingency of the Provincial Government annulling the contract, but such a result is highly improbable and may be at onco dismissed. It would be a difficult matter, howe\er, to lay the matter before the Colonial Government as it now stands, nothing definite being known either as to whether the company will construct the railway or when the question will be determined. The only matter that has beeen settled is the construction of a short line from tha Brunner mine to Cobden; that coal-field is, at the present time, being profitably worked by the Nelson Go" vermnent, and all manner of care was taken for the improvement of that property, and the construction of a railway was insisted upon as a sine qua non Meanwhile we must await the result of the report of the surveyors, appointed to go over the proposed line. We shall be agreeably surprised if, upon investigation of the merits of the undertaking, they recommend its being carried out. Undoubtedly the extensive system of railways, proposed by the colony, tnay exercise an important influence in determining the construction of a line between Nelson and Cobden; and, in order to ensure a complete system of railway, communication throughout the Middle Island, the Legislature may sec its way to guarantee interest, for a term of years, upon the outlay, and thus lend a helping hand in bringing the matter to a favorable issue, but we greatly fear that much tedious and fruitless negotition will be inflicted upon us before the fate of the scheme has been ultimately decided. On the other hand it must be borne in mind, that it is one thing for a young colony to decide in favor of a loan of several millions, and another for the loan to be favorably received. In any case the matter cannot be accomplished out of hand like any ordinary and insignificant business transaction, and some little time must lapse and a great variety of interests be consulted before the Government will be prepared to invite a loan. If the survey of the Nelson and Cobden Railway bo concluded within a reasonable period and the scheme fall through, there will still be probably time to represent the matter to the Colonial Government. The wisdom of including the Mount liochfort coal-fields in the bonus for the construction of a line between Nelson and Cobden may

be very fairly questioned. The main line will not develop these coal-fields and, if they are opened up at all, it must be accomplished by a separate line and should, therefore, have formed the subject of a separate contract. If the Government had really been anxious to develop the resources of this district they might have arranged for a line of railway between Mount Kochfort and VVestport, as also between the Brunner and Cobden.