EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1466, 5 November 1884, Page 3

EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

{Nelson Mail), Contrary to previous expectations there appears, acoording to our Wel--1 ngton correspondent, to be a possibility of the West Coast and Nelson Railway Bill passing Legislative Council. The effect of this measure in its present form will be to exclude Nelson for ever from participation in the colonial scheme of railways and therefore its p ssing into law becomes a very seriou» nutter inched for Neison. The result of taking the line by the Arthur's Pass roate would be that its terminus wou !d be at Brunnerton, and that in getting to that point it would pass far south of Re«fton 80 that Canterbury would cet all its wants hi the way of communication with the West Coast without a shadow of a chance being afforded to Nelson of bein.!?counect«l with. the line. Were it brought by way of Cannibal <Jor»e and Reefcon we should be placed in a far different position and might look forward almost with certainty to an extension from Belgrove to the through line. And yet this important alteration, so vitally •fleeting the interest of the district they represent was suftered by our representatives to pass the Lower House without any attempt to oppose it, So far as we can gather f rom the reports of the proceedings they never even raised their voice against it, and actully permitted the amendment to be adopted without calling for a division. A very heavy responsibility indeed thus rests on their shoulders, aud we cannot see how they possibly can justify the neglect of their manifest duty, which was to oppose the selection of the Arthur's Pass route by every means in -their power. A meeting of the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce was held this morning to consider whether it was possible in any way to remedy the existing state at things in connection with this highly important Bill, and as a result of their deliberation it was decided to send thf> following -telegram to Messrs J. C. Richmond, andßarnicoat. the Nelson members of the Legislative Council : — " This <3hamber impresses upon members the vital importance to Nelson of the Can-terbury-West Coast railway going to Beeften and thence to Brunnerton, Tither then to Brunnerton, and thence to Reefton. We hold the opinion so strongly that we urge upon you to vote in favour of throwing out the Bill rather -than let it he passed in the present form",. Mr Richmond has always taken so keen and active an interest in the ■question ef railway communication that be feel asgured that be will do all in his power to prevent the district suffering from the supinaness of its representatives in the other Chamber, and if he and Mr Barnicoat set to work zealously, as we have no doubt they will, to endeavor to alter the decision arrived at so hurriedly at in the Lower House, it is just possible that if the Bill gets into committee they may succeed in bo amending it has to leave the route optional with the Syndicate undertaking the work, in which case it is beyond nil doubt that they will select that by way of the Cannibal Gorge and Reefton. If they find on •enquiry that they will not be able to do 'this we sincerely hope with the committed of the Chamber of Commerce, "that they may be successful iv defeating a measure which is calculated to inflict ■a very severe blow upon the welfare of this portion of the colony.