THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIX, Issue 9992, 22 March 1893, Page 6

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sib,—Some of your readers having been misled by the telegram from Brunnerton in your issue of to-day, I wish to point out that the petition referred to has in no way originated with or been instigated by the New Zealand Midland Railway Company, but that it emanated solely from the residents on the West Coast. I learn from the local papers thatit was started and is being carried round the country by a Mr Morris, a gentleman who there was no reason to suspect of having any particular partiality for the Company; in fact, his previous acta and utterances had given an opposite impression. The. principal part of the petition, which is being largely signed, is as follows“ ft We would suggest as a fair solution of the difficulty that the Government offer to the Company (in return for the land grant being given back) £500,000, either in cash, or its equivalent in debentures at market rates, and the Government also give a guarantee of three per cent on £500,000, on condition of the Company completing the line from the West to'Canterbury. The Nelson branch, incur opinion, should be held over until the east and west lino is completed, when it may become the object of further negotiation. This, we consider, can be done with perfect fairness to Nelson, as the Company has already devoted the larger portions of its expenditure to the Nelson branch.” The Grey River Argus, from which I quote the above, goes on to aay.—"The reasons adduced in eupport are, in short, that as matters now stand an absolute check to settlement and industry of all kinds is interposed through * the uncertain rights of the Company in regard to the land required for occupation.’ The issues at stake to the Colony and the Company alike are so vast that the most earnest efforts ought to be made to avert the mutually destructive conflict that must impend if the present unsatisfactory state of affairs be not remedied.”— I am, &0., H. ALAN SCOTT.