EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1584, 7 August 1885, Page 2

EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

. ! + THE REPLIES FROM WELLINGTON. The following telegrams have been 1 recei ved by the Mayot , of Chri>tchnrch in answer to resolntious passed at the public meeting at the Tnani street I Hall, and by the City Council, oa Monday evening : — From Sir Julius Vogel— " I have to thank you for the telegrams forwarded to Government, and inform yoa that we had determined to recommend the House to refer the East and West Coast Railway proposals to a Select Committee, to report in a few days. Arriving at this conclusion we h»ve been influenced by the feeling that members of the House generally would be better satisfied if the matter were first considered and reported on by & Select Committee." From Mr W. Rotlioton— " Thank yon for forwarding expression of Council s opinion. Shall not act without earnest consideration." Frosn Mr E Wakefield— " Public meeting misled concerning roe, lam not their comity member, but the representative of the Selwyn electoral district in the Now Zealand Parliament. I am no more responsible to Christchurch than to Auckland. As one of the original Canterbury settlers, however, I am grieved and ashamed at the reckless disregard of the public welfare which is shown at Christchurch for the sole object of getting an immediate expenditure of money. I never allow myself to be subjected to pressnre whilst engaged in my parliamentary duty, even by my own constituents, much less by other people's. Out of courtesy to your Worship, I beg to inform yon that I am opposing the railway concession because I consider it an extremely profligate proposal, and I have no doubt I shall succeed, in company with the most public-spirited and trustworthy men in the House." Mr Wak«-fie!d's telegram was answered by the Mayor as nnder : — "Thanks for your courtesy. The resolutions sent to you were unanimously passed at a large public meeting and by the Christchurch City Council. As Chairman, I was nqnetf.d to forward sime. Ynn are gi o-wly misinformed if under tlie impression that I C'iristchnich advocates mvepUnv* of proposals lor the sole o''j«-ct of getting

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an immediate expenditure of money. No one better informed than yourself that railway connecting Canterbury with the West Coast has been accepted by Parliament, :i:id every leading politician in the Hou«« during the last twelve years has advocated and promise.! to support the same. Was surprised that you consider the proposes profligate, when, unless iimbreported, you proposed a sinnliar scheme in a speech to your constituentsin July, 1884, and regret that you consider it. your duty now to oppose, but sincerely hope you will not succeed. The extract from Mr Walnfield's speech referred to by the Mayor in his telegram occurred in an address delivered by him to his constituents at Lneston on July 7th, 1834, as reporter* in the Pr::ss, aad is as follows:— He hoped to see the West Coast line made without raising money for that purpose. A public company was prepared to lend the whole of the money for ihat railway, if they could get the (Government to jzive the company some guarantee. H« did not see^why they ■honM not give thorn assistance. Land had been reserved for fifteen 'miles i»y the sides of the railway, and he did not see why they should not give the Company some of that, and that when the railway was made they could assist the Com piny to the extent of 1 per cent, or \ per cent, foe a few years, until the railway should be in working order. In this way they could g«t a great work done, and one which would be of great benefit to the farmere of Canterbury. n?ul which would also cause the population of the West Coast to rise to 100,000."