IN THE LOBBIES. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ]

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1275, 31 August 1880, Page 3

IN THE LOBBIES. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ]

Wellington, Last Night, 11.35 p.m. Cambridge Railway Bill. The Cambridge Railway Bill has been before the House for over a week, but has been delayed from time to time by various circumstances, chiefly owing to the declared intention of Grey, Spright, Tole and many others to oppose it to the utmost, and thus rendering it necessary that the Government should pass various other Bills, which were absolutely necessary. On Saturday it was blocked out by fomented discussion on other subjects, and to-day delayed by the same means. In the meantime members on all sides were uneasy, impatient and angry and many who were friendly to the Bill, had declared their intention of voting against it, as they saw little chance of its passing through the House. Sir George Grey to-day stated openly that he would stay a month if necessary to have it thrown out. a t last it was brought on to-day by the Minister for Public' Works, who made a short but clever speech in its favor. Sir George Grey, Messrs Thompbon, Macandrew, Sheehan, Murray. Speight and others opposed it. Messrs Whyte, Tmmble, Hursthouse, Whitaker and others supported the Bill, but as the declared policy of the Opposition was to talk it out, to have made long speeches on the subject would simply have been playing their game, and would certainly have wearied beyond endurance the members of the House generally Mr Whyte, in his speech, pointed out that this line and the Thames line were not rival schemes, but were parts of one scheme for connecting the districts of the Thames and the Waikato, which connection could never be complete if the most rising and flourishing districts in tbe Waikato were left out in the cold. Had it not been so, the Cambridge Branch would have joined the main line at an entirely different place not on the Thames-Waittato Railway at all. He also pointed out that it was really part of the main trunk line, through the island, which Mr Macandrew advocates as so desirable, and which undoubtedly is so. The question before the House was simply, where dould the little money available be spent to the best advantage ? it being useless to think of being able to finish the Thames railway within the next few years. He pointed this out with no desire to institute comparison between the two lines if completed. SirGeo. Grey followed, objecting to the diversion of money voted for the Thames railway to the Cambridge branch, and acting unfairly in telegraphing to Cambridge that it was his intention to stonewall the bill. Mr Whitaker, in the course of his remarks, said that Mr Whyte was perfectly justified in telegraphing as he did, as it was known all over the House that such was the case. Mr Whyte himself had been told so by Sir G. Grey, Mr Speight and others. Mr Whitaker also brought forward many other reasons in favor of the bill. After the adjournment Mr Speight appeared with a pile of books and papers, evidently with the purpose of talking for hours, and did talk for some time. The House all the time was in a perfect fever of impatience and bad temper. At last he stopped, stating that he knew the second reading would be carried, and that he would reserve his opposition till the House went into committee. Then Mr Oliver replied, lauding the Cambridge people for the manner in which they had subscribed for and had carried out two complete detail surveys which showed that the railway, when completed, would not cost more than £28,000. He then moved that the Bill be read a second time. A division ensued, and the result was 25 for and 17 against, without pairs. After this Mr Oliver said that owipg to other business, which must be complete, the impossibility of keeping membei'S longer in Wellington, and the threatened protracted Opposition, he was reluctantly compelled to abandon the Bill for this session. At all events the principle has been affirmed.