SEIZURE OF THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9831, 28 May 1895, Page 5

SEIZURE OF THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Monday. The announcement of the seizure of the Midland Railway came upon the public today as an immense surprise. Scarcely anything else has been talked of since. The prevailing idea is that a very strong proceeding has been taken which may lead to large additional public expenditure. From the point of view of the Government sup porters it is regarded as a " master stroke " of political wisdom. Tho morning paper alludes to the subject with enthusiastic approbation as follows:—"The Government has, by taking possession of the Midland Railway, brought matters to a crisis, and obtained security for the completion of the contract, as well as for any damages that may have been sustained by the State by the delays and breaches that have taken place. The first consequenco of this is that both parties are now upon equal terms. The second is obvious. It is thab a method of settlement which has begun to prove itself tedious, and shown signs of developing delays without end, has been cub short. By forcing the fighting, the Government has put a term, and one that is not long, to the locking up of a vast public estate, on which there is a large field for settlement. ,

The evening paper looks on the matter in a very different light, and after the usual vehement reference to various stages of the dispute between the Company and the Government, concludes as follows:—"If the West Coast land will pay for the railway well and good, bub tho colony is not justified in spending money on or borrowing money for the line. It is possible or indeed probable that) the Government may. now hold out the prospect ot going on with, the work on its own account as a bribe for political support from Canterbury, Westland, and perchance then Nelson; if so the rest of the colony must be firm in resisting such an expenditure. The Government has always been anxious to get the construction of the railway back into its own hands as a powerful means of purchasing political support. This desire has accounted for much of the hostility shown towards the company and the obstruction thrown in its way. The people of the colony will need bo be on their guard bo prevent the public credib being committed bo the construction of a most costly and unnecessary railway- '