THE EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Evening Star, Issue 6700, 7 September 1885, Page 2

THE EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

[From Oub Pabliamentabt Repobteb.l

WELLINGTON, Septembeb 7.

The greatest secrecy is maintained as to the result of the recent caucus of members interested in the East and West Coast Railway I can, however, acquaint you with the actual state of affairs. On Saturday a " round robin," signed by the majority of the representatives of the three interested districts, was presented to the Government, intimating that unless the question of the construction of the line was made a Ministerial ore the signatories would go into Opposition. The question having been considered in Cabinet, an intimation has been conveyed to Mr Walker, the Government whip and also one of the signatories, that while the Government are still loyal and sincere in their desire to construct the railway, they will not depart from the position taken up in the Works Statement, that the matter should not be considered as a pttrty one, and that sooner than depart from the lines of the Statement they -prefer losing office. I hear that the decision of the Cabinet was only arrived at after a lengthy discussion, and that Sir J. Vogel and Mr E. Richardson were anxious to make the matter a Ministerial question, but were overruled by their colleagues. I believe that Sir J. Vogel holds the view that the events of last session have pledged the House to the construction of the line, and as Parliament now apparently refuses to do so, the country should decide the matter.