WEST COAST FINANCES.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1201, 11 August 1874, Page 2

WEST COAST FINANCES.

At the interview of the West-land members with the Premier, Mr Vogel absolutely refused to depart in the slightest degree from the programme laid down in his financial statement. He said that the government fully recognised the necessities of Westland but they had proposed all that they could ask Parliament to accept. Mr Vovel twitted Mr Bonar with the inconsistency of his having last session opposed the proposals of Government to enable the province to borrow, and in now urging the Government to do that which he had opposed. As to harbor works at Grcymouth, it was, ho said, absurd to suppose that Government would encourage the production of large quantities of coal without at the same time providing mean 3 for its shipment. He said Government were much discouraged in their efforts to benefit Westland by roads, railways &c , by the rapacious claims that were made for compensation. Westland was in this respect quite exceptional to the rest of the colony. He refused to consent to the payment of the Magistrate at Grej mouth. The interview with the Nelson members was attended with somewhat similar results. Government, he said would not budge from their proposals. All that could be conceded was to have a re-survey of the Foxbill and Brunncrton railway, but it is considered that the line will not be constructed through the proposed route. Mr Vogel absolutely refused Mr O'Conor money for water races for Charleston, and remarked upon tho singularity that Mr O'Conor had asked tho Minister of Public Works to support his proposal as a " personal favour" to himself. An attempt was made to induce the Premier to increase tho special grant to Nelson from £soooto £IOOO, but withouc effect There is no chance of any provincial loans being carried, and Mr Vogel R| oko strongly upon the absurdity of pi oyiucial couucl's discussing the fiu-

ances of tho colony, aud passiug resolutions aa to borrowing irioney for harbor woiks.