The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 872, 10 October 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1871.

According to tho Public Works' Statement eleven lines of railway, being portions of main lines, are to be undertaken during tbe present year, the construction extending over a period of five years, and those portions which are likely to pay best being first completed. MrGiaborneaskedtbehouse to consider railway? for developing the coal i mines lof the country as belonging fto a distinct class. He proposed jthatthe'cost of such railways, should be directly made, but not too' immediately, upon.the mine, to be developed; and suggested that the Board of Works should be empowered to render aid, in the shape of advances, for the purpose 1 of assisting in the development of coal mines. Immediate provision is to be made for the construction of a coal line from Bbllestoh to, Malvern, and from the Brunner coal mines to Greymouth, in the Middle. Island, and from,the Kawa Kawa' mine to .the ,place of shipment in the North -Island. Provision will also' be made for the scientific examination of the «eoal 'country between Mount Kochfort and the Buller, with a view to its development by means of railway communication; and, it is also, proposed to ask for a money vote for the .purpose of .investigating the mineral resources of the country.along the whole of the line between Foxhill and Cobden.

Ihi questioifnext discussed was the terms of the contract for the con-

straction of these railways. On a previous occasion we referred to the merits of the alternative contracts entered into by the Colonial Treasurer with the Messrs Brogden, and then concluded that the terms of the smaller proposal only were such as could be advantageously accepted by the colony. The Government, h appears, have decided to accept the No. 2 contract, subject to their being "empowered, at their discretion, to substitute therefor a contract for railways, costing in the whole not more than £1*500,000 or £2,000,000 ; and subject to the condition that,* under such enlarged contract, no land shall be given except for the purpose of settling immigrants, and for that purpose only to such an extent as will permit of twenty acres being set apart for each able-bodied adult male immigrant introduced." Mr Gisborne defends the negotiations already entered into by the Colonial Treasurer. He says, "If the guarantee principle is adopted, it is indispensable, with a view to .economy, efficiency, and despatch in the construction of the works, that the contract should be made with persons possessed of extensive means and credit." This argument is unanswerable. It could answer no good purpose to offer a small guarantee to men possessed neither of capital nor influence, as they 'would not themselves have the means to conduct extensive contracts, nor the commercial standing to enter into private arrangements with those able to undertake the wcrk. Such a course must necessarily result in delay and disappointment. At the same time, we think that there has been unnecessary haste in binding the colony to accept the Messrs Brogden as. contractors. It is quite possible that if the colony had in the first instance decided upon the lines of railway to be constructed and the principle on which their construction was to be based, terms more advantageous might have been obtained.