THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 131, 6 June 1888, Page 4

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

M^^&f^^h^Xc- - • " : , v f|Hie Ooi»j!j)onaen(ie ion the subjeot of the Mi^ft^yailjy^y, P^ing to it being by oable waa^to- fe lisrfge extent unintelligible to the general publio, inasmnoh as it referred to: , a^ttera 'Whioh wete under diBOUBSion, and - Bhiph/jeieknpyyn to the partieß concerned r-^-walJi^ A^ftH a view to explain the trne .-**:^dil4lbtf of affairs with regard to the line, a member of the Press staff made some , inquiries yesterday, and the result of these - will fee found below. With reference to the ' f* r fctlt point mentioned in the telegrams, viz., as to oiaaBe 38, it may be stated that this „;.■ proviso objected to by the Company is one '* which states that the previous part of the B ; paragraph, viz.—" That the Qaeen shall give >?: to the Company, and the Company to the I Queen, mutual running powers over their -I- respective lines of railway" shall not be '"^operative until as agreement had been made -Itetween the Queen and the Company in conformity with clause 5 of the East and West Coast Bailway Aot. The Company tearing that this would prevent them being enabled 'to' obtain from the Government satisfactory running powers .over the line to which they join, objected. To this the Government replied as follows :— "Will con* sent to insert undertaking to make reason» able agreement for running powers, and, if -parties oannot agree, then for reference to .arbitration. f/1 " As "to the objection to clause 39, it may be explained that in the original contract it was provided that the Company might charge the rates of fares in force on the WellingtonMaaterton line, with 25 per cent, added, bat in the recent contraot the Government proposed ■ to change the definition by substituting a clause that the fare which should be charged should be the same aa charged generally on the railways in Mew Zealand, with the 25 per cent added. The Company considered that ibis . would probably mean a large reduction in the fares whioh they would be entitled to -. charge under the original contract. The Government, in reply to this objection, state that while no reduction was intended, they are willing to allow the Company to revert to the original clause enabling them to charge ' the same rates as on the Wellington-Master-ton line, with the 25 per ceut added. In .reference to the only other point of difference' viz., with regard to the adoption of a system of inclines over Arthur's Pass, the following explanation will probably make the matter clear. In the reoent contract tha Government had inserted provisions in clause 4 precluding- the Company from adopting the system of inclines over Arthur's "Pass, the plans for whioh were inoludedin those originally handed to the Company as prepared by Mr Napier Bell on the Company "entering into the original contraot; Mr Bell was originally instructed by the Government in surveying the Arthur's Pass *Ottte to prepare alternative plans for tunnel or incline. The Company objected to being ,<jsprived of any right they might have • .under the original contract to adopt the incline if they considered it advisable, and they theref ore telegraphed to the Government as follows : — " Company ask, subject to Governor's approval ; for alternate line over Arthur's Pass, upon Abt system, avoiding tunnel, whereupon supposed approved and cost entire railway reduced below two and a half millions, land grant reduced proportionately. If you accept this Company waives other points, allow Agent-General settle for amendment, and affix seal." What the Company desired was that they might have the 1 right to adopt an incline line on the Abt system over Arthur's Pass, if the Governor should . approve. . They were further willing to agree that if the reduction in the cost of the construe- -.--. tion of the entire line was reduced below . the i Government estimate of two and a half millions, .then their land grant should be reduced proportionately to such reduction. . To this the Government replied in the terms of <jhe resolution, laid before the House by the Premier, which was as follows : — . "•"^Provided also that the Company may construct an 'inoline line' instead of a *- tunnel line, ' if the Governor, after having obtained the opinion of two eminent engineers to be nominated by him, is satisfied that an inoline line can be made "~~ "suitable 'for mineral and other heavy traffic, and, in his opinion, worked at a satisfactory cost, and if the cost of construction of the entire line from Springfield to Belgxove shall be, less than £2,500,000, a reduction shall be made in the grant of land to the | Company, proportionate to the amount saved by the substitution of an ' incline line ' for a ' tunnel line. ' " It,- will thus be seen that what the Company, required, .was the power to adopt the inoline system, if it is subsequently agreed , by the Government and the Company that it is advisable to do so. The only question at issue between the Government and the Company having thus been settled satisfactorily, and the Company having agreed that the Agent-General, oa receivingadvice of the agreement by the Government and the Parliament to the points put forth by the Company, may make the necessary amendments, they will at once seal and sign, and the work in connection with the ljne will soon be vigorously prosecuted.