COMPLETION OF RAILWAYS—THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE CAUTIOUS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXI, Issue 2724, 7 May 1877, Page 2

COMPLETION OF RAILWAYS— THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE CAUTIOUS.

Dunedin, May 5,

An influential deputation from the Chamber of Commerce waited upon the Hon. G. M'Lean to-day, and stated that it had been felt for some time past that the Government was n^t pushing on with the breaks in the arterial lines so far as Otagb was concerned/ Mr ' M'L'ean replied that those Imes which required only the permanent way to be laid, or were near completion, on which a large amount of money had been , spent, the Government was just as anxious as the deputation to' get them completed. There was no justification for the statement that tlje Northern Inne was not being pushed fprward. The delay in connection with the southern lines was consequent upon the Waitepeka deviation, but as money was not plentiful, and a,s the credit of New Zealand was not in such a comfortable position as they could wish it to be, it was the desire of the Government to work matters in such a way as to raise the credit of the Colony again by showing that our railways so far were reproductive and by keeping out of the money market for a little. 'With th^at desire the Govprnment had made arrangements in Sydney for some time to come, and the works, pef§rred to by the deputation would be proceeded with a.t a reasonable rate, and consistently with doing justice to every .part of the Colony. The deputation then discussed the Dock question, and a counter deputation explained their views on the matter. Mr M'Lean, iv effect, replied that it was for the Harbor poard to decide aa to the* site of the dock and 'railway station. ; ' ■ ; '' Mr M'Lean leaves Dunedin to-night.