WAIKATO AND THAMES VALLEY RAILWAY.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 876, 31 January 1878, Page 2

WAIKATO AND THAMES VALLEY RAILWAY.

The following deputation waited ou the Premier while in Auckland on Tuesday, viz., Dr Kilgour (Mayor ol Thames) and Messrs Brodie and Carpenter. The deputation' was introduced by the Hon. Mr dht-e-

nan. The Premier: You must understand one thing before we begin l'he law says that we can advance only certain sums out of the whole oura voted. When we* came into office we found that a large proportion of the whole* had been advanced. Dv Kilgour.: The Hon. the Premier may not be aware that at a meeting of the Thames County Council the gentlemen forming the present deputation were requested lo wait upon the hon. Ministers representing the Government when «n Auckland, and to lay the subject of the Waikato and Tuames Vailey Railway hefore them. We are lesirous of promoting the construction of this line of the Waikato and Thames Valley, i'ou have a.ready informed us, and the Hon. iMr •Sueehan concurred in the view you then expresses, th «t it would be impossible to do aiiything until sue dine as you acquired ttie native lands through winch the line wouid ,>ass. As 1 understood you, you did not wish to take any lauds from natives until you could get them by purchase. The Premier: Yes; we should like to get them. Mr Carpenter : There is a considerable proportion of the land as yet in the hands of the natives. Dr Kilgour : we would wish to urge upon the Government th.deeirability o! acquiring these lands as speedily as possible. We believe that, if this matter were once deer mined, there would be nor difficulty whatever in carrying out the railway works. I believe there will be no difficulty whatever iu finding people in this town ready >md willing to advance the necessary capital. lam informed that there are three gentlemeu who would be j prepared to do so if all the necessary preliminaries were settled. Mr Brodie : There is a feeling that the guarantee of 2 per cent, is too sin til. The other 5 per cent vould have to be paid out of rates. 1 think that a proposition should lie laid before the Assemb.y in its next session. The Defence Minister: It would be too much to ask us—if that be what is meant—to bring in a bili next session to enable us to rate the lands of natives. Mr BroJie: That is not what I meant. It was rather that the guarantee should be - enlarged, keeping in view that this line will pass through an extensive native district, or, in other words, that' special provision may be made in respect to guarantee for lines like this that would be carried through native districts. The Defence Minister :—That is a different matter, and might be a very proper question for consideration.

The Premier: You may depend upon it the Government will use every opportunity that may present itself to promote this object. I am as anxious as you all are that every thing possible should be done to promote it. The Defence Minister: The line as projpcted will, I believe, pass through a good deal of the land which we are now purchasing. There will be hut a small blank lef» letween the Thames Valley and the Waikatn when these purchases sha'l have been completed. The Premitt: My own opinion

is, that the safety of the country will be secured, when th ; s work is done. You ma. rely on it that I will lose no single moment in doing* what I can to f inber it. The Hon. Mr. Sheehan, I believe, 1 fullv c >msides in my view of this ma r ter; ao that yo" see i-. rather stops us* to come to talk with us upon it. It is almost a matter of supererogation to mention the subject. Mr Brodie : The difficulty we see is the guarantee. The Premier: In the Cape of Good Hope they got all tbeir railways done upon a guarantee of 6 per cent., and the Government was never called upon to p-w a far thine. However, you may depend upon it we will assist you all we can in carrying out the object you have in. view.

The deputation having thanked the Hon the Premier foi his courtesy, withdrew.