The Midland Railway

was a question of great importance to the Colony, and of great concern to their district. In 1894, they would remember the Company desired to give up its contract, and make a new one for completing the line between the West Coast and Christchurch leaving Nelson out and giving up its land grants for £618,000 while the cost of building the railway from the West Coast be Christchurch was estimated at one million sterling. He objeted to the Colony giving the Company a sum equal to two-third of the cost of constructing that portion of the line, and it was matter of great difficulty to resist the powerful efforts of the Company in their endeavors he Government was in favor of acceding to the wishes of the Company, but that would not have been satisfactory to Nelson, and as their member he tried to avert what he thought would be a calamity. He placed himself in communication with the officials of the Nelson Railway League, and the whole matter was of so delicate a nature—the Government favoring the Company's request—that they could not make known what they were doing. But the officials of the League knew all that was going on. In Nelson there was public agitation in respect to the matter—and it was very natural to and it was decided to send a deputation to Wellington, They deputation saw him in Wellington, and on receiving an explation of what had been done, they magnanimously said they were page 11 absolutely satisfied that all had been done that was possible. One of those gentlemen said he was astonished at the grasp he, the speaker, had of the subject. The members of that deputation offered their best services, which was very kind of them. (Applause.) One hour before the vote was taken Mr Wilson, the Company's representative, came to him, Mr Graham, and said " We aro going to loose this vote, and you will be sorry for it for we have £50,000 set aside to fight the Colony, and we shall make you pay." Now the arbitration had come on, and it had been proved that the Government had acted legally. The Colony, and especially Nelson owed a debt of gratitude also to one gentleman who had strongly assisted their member. The same gentleman had also magnanimously fought the case before Arbitration Court without reward. (Loud applause.) He referred to Sir Robert Stout—[Loud applause]—and however, they might differ with that gentleman, and lie did frequently differ with him, he admired and recognised in him one of the most able men in the House. He had some what he the speaker, thought were fads—and probably they all had fads—and it was unfortunate that Sir Robert Stout had; it he could By put some of those in the background his talent and honesty of purpose was sufficient for all they required. Regarding the present position of the Midland line from 'Belgrove, the Government had decided to carry it on towards the Motupiko, and the Government intended that they should as soon as possible have the line into Motueka Valley—to a point which would serve all the valleys on the other side of Spooner's Rauge. He visited the locality about three weeks ago, and, with the assistance of some of the leading settlers there he ascertained that the number of settlers in the Motupiko, Tadmor, Sherry, Wangapeka, Baton, etc., was no fewer than 119 settlers, who lived on their own hand, producing products for market, and they and their families numbered early 1,000 souls. Therefore there would be an immediate return for carrying the line to the point indicated, Besides this there were tens of thousands of acres of land locked up, land that their young men had been waiting for—[Hear, hear.]—and when that land was open they would not only have the present settlers, but many others located there, and the Railway would benefit them, and they would benefit the Railway, what benefited the country would benefit the town. He had consulted the Hon. Mr MacKenzie as to the throwing open of that land, and the Minister told him that he was anxious that it should be thrown open as soon as possible; that he had referred the question of their ability to throw it open to the law officers of the Crown; and that he had surveyors ready, and the plans for subdividing the land as soon as they could. He, the speaker, pointed out that however desirable was the acquisition of land for settlement purposes, it was wrong that colonists page 12 should be kept waiting for the opening up of thousands of acres which had now been locked up too long. Mr McKenzie agreed with what he said, and promised to let him know as soon as he could. (Applause.) He had since asked the Minister again by letter when the land would be thrown open, and he had hoped to have received a reply by that night, but he had not. He hoped however that the land would he available in the near future.