Main Trunk Link and Branch Links.

As regards the main trunk line you will know that we succeeded in obtaining Parliamentary consent to carry on that line. Although the loan WAS authorised previ- page break ously, Parliamentary consent had to be obtained before the loan could be negotiated or the line could be commenced, and with the object of having the route settled, a committee was appointed of Middle Island gentlemen of unimp achable integrity, and who had no interest whatever in the route. They came to the conclusion that the central route was the best. Although it was not a matter on which I thought it right to obtrude my individual opinion, now that the matter is settled, I may say I am quite sure you have every reason to be glad at the decision come to. Had the line gone round by Stratford, you would never have had a fast service. I am sure the people of Auckland and Wellington would not be contented with a service by which they could not get through in 14 or 15 horns. Had the line gone round by Stratford such are the difficulties and in-equalities of the line between Marton and Stratford that a fast service would have been impossible, but now by the route we are going you will have a service which there is no reason should not average 40 or 45 miles an hour from one end to the other, lees stoppages and delays, and you will have, in fact, a first-rate service which you could not have had by the other way. As regards tapping Taranaki, I cannot help thinking that long before the line is finished proposals will be made and effect given to them sooner or later by which the Taranaki province will be placed in direct communication with the main line; and, similarly, in my opinion, there will be a connection between Tauranga and the main line; and similarly again—but this has already been decided—direct communication will be opened between Napier and the main line, and you will have the whole brought into one direct line. The present line will open out the country more effectually than the other, and give you a fast service. I an? not going to trouble you with questions relating to finance, but will merely pay this—that the Government pee no difficulties in the questions relating to the negotiations of the loan to prevent them from proceeding, as it is their earnest intention to do with the utmost rapidity in carrying through the line between Wellington and Auckland, and giving you the earliest possible completion of that line. (Cheers) There is another line which is of great importance to you, and it is the Rotorua Railway. I may say this to you, and really I think I have come to a period of my discourse which must be of great interest to all persons who are really interested in Auckland. However bitterly they may disapprove of me or my Government, they must be very unintelligent or careless people who do not wish to know what are the facts upon a question of this kind. (Cheers.) I am in hopes that under the resolutian passed last session, by which we were empowered to negotiate, subject to the approval of Parliament, for the various district lines, we may be able to make such arrangements with the local company as will be acceptable to Parliament and lead to the Government acquiring the Rotorua line, under conditions leading to it a rapid completion. We recognise that the Government are very much concerned in the a matter for reasons upon which it is not necessary I should dwell. Not only is it a matter of importance to the colony that the access to this sanatorium should be obtained, but it is also of great importance to the Government that faith should be kept with those who under inducements offered by the I Government became lessees of the proposed; township of Rotorua. (Cheers.) I have not time now to go into the question of district railways, but I will ask you to allow me to say this, that in my opinion it should be the duty of Parliament next session to settle once and for all what are the main trunk lines of the colony in both islands, and that it should be determined we should proceed with these trunk lines from time to time, as the means of the colony enable it to do so. And then as regards other railways, they should pass into the category either of forest railways or district railways, and as district railways, should be charged half upon the district which is enjoying the benefit of them, and half upon the Colonial Government. If we once come to a decision upon that question, there would be less scrambling, for there would be more certainty on the part of those who claim the main lines of railway, and less scrambling on the part of those who want district railways, seeing that they would have to give an earnest of their belief in the construction of such railways, by making the locality responsible for half the interest upon their cost. (Cheers.)