NELSON AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1063, 15 April 1873, Page 2

NELSON AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

The Wellington Post has the following comments on the subject:—" The West Coast railway scheme projected at Nelson is certainly a big one—in fact, if carried out, it would virtually hand over the Province of Nelson to a

joint stock company, and transmute the inhabitants thereof into something very like the employees of the said company. The proposal is to obtain a gradt of at least 900,000 acres of land from the Provincial Government, the lease of the Nelson and Foxhill and the Greymouth-Brunnerton railways from the General Government, together with a lease of the Brunner mine. The company, for these concessions, would construct a railway right through from Nelson to Grey, mouth, and work it as a mercantile speculation. One would have thought, after the experience which the United States have afforded of the pernicious results of huge grants of land to railroad companies, that some of the more sober-minded of the community would have criticised the project; but, if we are to judge by the manner in which it was received by a large and influen. tial public meeting recently held in Nelson city, but one opinion prevails as to the wisdom of carrying out the scheme. Mr 3. C. Richmond, who is usually conspicuous for his foresight, spoke in enthusiastic terms in its favor, and seemed to he prepared to give the whole Province away if necessary. Our neighbors ought to know their own business best; but, nevertheless, it is reassuring to reflect that before the proposed concessions can be made, the sanction of Parliament must be obtained.