THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1915, 3 August 1888, Page 9

THE OT AGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

(FttOM Ouh Special Cobbespondent.) Wellington, July 26.

The opponents of Mr Pyke's bill entered the House this evening prepared to contest the passing of each clause inch by inch. Sir George Grey, who feels very strongly on the subject, wa s present iv his place, although he is suffering from a severe cold. The great interest which he takes in the welfare of the working classes of Otago impelled him (so he assured me) to remain and endeavour to prevent a great wrong being inflicted on them.

When the business commenced at half-past 7 the member for Dunstan took his seat at the central table with a look of confidence mingled with resignation. Ho was, as he usually is, as neat as a new pin in his attire, and a bunch of violets ornamented his buttonhole. The fun was commenced by Sir George Grey. The veteran statesman played once more on th« old string. Ho denounced Mr Pyke for endeavouring to rob the people of New Zealand of their patrimony in order to bestow ifc on friends of liis own. Ab this point the chairman called Sir George Grey to order for wandering away from the clause before the committee. Sir George contended that he was perfectly in order, but the chairman overruled him.

Mr Fish then moved that the chairman do leave the chair. In doing so he spoke with some warmth against the bill, and referred to the meesing held recently in Dunedin to discuss the proposed syndicate. He stigmatised one of the speakers at that gathering as a mere " pettifogging attorney." He read an extract from the Ocago Daily Times iv order to prove that the meeting was about equally divided on the question of the construction of the Otago Central line. He quoted with approbation Sir Robert Stout's suggestions, and advocated the > construction of the line on the terms mentioned ; by the late Premier. He ventured the opinion that the member for Dunstan received the support of a number of members for friendship's sake alone. Some of them had assured him that they did not care a pin's poiut for the measure, but they would vote for it "in order to please old Pyke."

The Premier then followed with a temperate speech in which, while laying a little " soft soap" on to JVIr Fish for his " admirable speech on oue side," he expressed his total dissent from the stand taken up by the hou. member. He adduced some forcible arguments in favour of the bill. Sir Harry was in one of his goodnatured moods.

Mr W. P. Reeves made some Canterbury observations relative to the split in the Cabinet which is known to exist in connection with the measure. He complimented the Premier on the moderation of his remarks, aud suggested that he should get one of his colleagues to give the House the other side of the question. Mr John M'Kenzie twitted the Premier with inconsistency. If the bill was so advantageous to the colony as the Premier had stated, why iv the name of common sense did not the Government take it up and accept the responsibility of the undertaking ?

Mr Hutchison quoted a passage from "Virgil " in the orginal lor the special edification of the member for Duuedin South. This gave rise to much merriment. Mr W. P. Reeves appealed ironically to the chairman to rule if one member had a right to abuse another member in a foreign language. He suggested that the Minister of Education, who wa& acknowledged to be oue of the greatest classical authorities of the age, should interpret the passage. Dr Fitchett asserted that Mr Hutchison m rendering the Virgilian passage had used "false quantities," thus making the quotation unintelligible. Mr Thompson (Marsdeu) delivered a phillipic against the bill. Taking up the role of Sir George Grey, he predicted that in 100 years' time, in case this measure became the law, the occupiers of the soil in the localities through which the railway passed would be "mere serfs of a foreign syndicate," and miserable hewers of wood and drawers of water. He had considerable experience of a similar state of things iv Ireland, aud if Mr Pyke persisted in forcing this measure he would be forfeiting the claim that he had earned in the past to the gratitude of posterity. He could not understand how a man who had rendered such signal Hcrvico to the country should in his old age advocate such a suicidal measure as this. Mr Thompson at; this stage of his speech treated the House to a " bull " worthy of Sir Boyle Roche. He stated that New Zealand was cursed at present by having a large number of absentees in the colony. He prophesied, in conclusion, that if Mr Pyke succeded in getting his bill made law his name a century hence would be held in the same execration that the name of Cromwell is held in Ireland. At this poiut it occurred to me that Mr Thompson's little joke had reference to the principal town in tho Dunstan aud Lakes districts, and that in a hundred years' timo Mr Pyke's name would be associated with the "curse of Cromwell." Mr Duncan followed with one of his hard, dry, &ensible speeches. Mr Fish got on his legs again, and characterised Mr Hutchison's classical quotations as "a piece of priggisbne&s." Mr Goldie spread himself out at great length on tie question. After the supper adjournment Mr W. P. Reeves moved that the galleries be cleared) and the unfortunate reporters were turned out.

Midnight. The House is still sitting with clysed doors. Mr Goldie has a pile of " Hansards " and Blue Books before £him for the purpose of stonewalling, but much difficulty is experienced in keeping a quorum tjge.tfcter. There are no fewer than 42 members paired on the question. I have interviewed the Speaker with the object of learning when the rules of the House would require the stonewalling lo cease. He informed me that it could be carried on into Sunday morning. Messrs Fish and J. M'Kenzie have gone home iv order to be ready to relieve the Auckland members in the morning, -if necessary, in blocking the bill. I have just met Mr Pyke in the outside lobby, aud the string of expletives which he hurled on the heads of the Auckland Blue Ribbonites would cause an Australian bullock-driver of the golden days to blu&h. It is now 1 o'clock, and Sir George Grey is in tne House " as tresh as a dait-y," prepared to do nis 6hare in preventing the "people of New Zealand from being robbed." In case the bill should get through the House, Mr Scobie MacKenzie intends to raise a point of order which will, it is stated, have the effect of " killing " toe meabure.

nf? »,• member . for Dunstan, when he shuffles oh this mortal coil does not have a monument erected to his memory by the residents of the utago Central district, the ifaifch of many persons in ti ie gratitude of the human race will be seriously affected. The persistent efforts of Mr • -fyke to get the interior of Otago settled deserve a suitable recognition, if not iv this life, at least in the next, aud a permanent tribute to nis memory m the shape of a marble obelisk is I? c smallest reward that can be expected from wosom whose interests he 'is fighting. If the tecuers of Otago could only have witnessed the zealous and self-denying conduct of the member »« Duustan on their behalf during the whole of

last night and to-day, their gratitude would know no bounds. Despite the badgering and bantering of the opponents of his bill, Mr Pyke stuck to his task with a fortitude which cannot be too highly praised. "No surrender" was stamped on every line of his face, and when the drowsy god overcame him, and his nasal organs joined in the drowsy concord raised by other hon. members who nodded in their seats, there was a determination about his mouth which indicated that he had made up his mind to " make a spoon or spoil a horn." Although the press reporters were excluded, I managed to get a peep into the chamber about 3 o'clock in the morning. Having taken stock of the member for Dunstan as he lounged in a sleeping posture, I longed for the pencil of a Cruikshanks to be able to give a graphic portrait of the gentleman who was head and front of the offending in the eyes of the opponents of his little bill. There he lay stretched on the cuHhioned seat, " dreaming the happy hours away," whilst his locum tenens, Mr Barron, piloted the measure through committee. Worn out by fatigue and annoyed by the hostilities of his political opponents, one would have imagined that the veteran politician would have been unable to " show up " this morning ; but when I reached the Parliamentary buildings after breakfast I found him looking "as jolly as a sandboy." The white violets were replaced by a bunch of fragrant wattle blossoms, and the silver snuffbox was placed on the table before him. Whatever the machinations of his political adversaries might be, and however they might cast ridicule on his bill, they dare not deny that he was "up" to snuff." After surveying the scene I set myself to work to get an insight into the proceedings from the tipae the galleries were cleared until they were thrown open again, and the following is a brief record of what transpired : —

When the telegraph closed at 2 o'clock Mr Goldie was speaking. He chatted gaily tor a considerable time, and although be was frequently interrupted by Dr Fitchett ho would not be " put down " until he had said his say. He was followed by Mr Thompson, of Marsden, who dilated at great length on a number of irrelevant subjects. Dr Fitchett again came to the rescue on behalf of Mr Pyke, but the imperturbable member for Marsden was not to be stamped out. Mr Thompson spoke for three hours and fifty-five minutes. He read the bill clause by clause for the enlightenment of hon. members, and wound up at 10 minutes to 6 Sir G. Grey, who had remained in harness all night, then took up the running and spread himselt out in tho poetical vein. Taking unto himself wings of fancy he floated over a century and beheld the Otago Central wallowing in the mireof degradation, audpaupers, comparing their sufferings to those Israelites who were carried off into Babylonish captivity. He quoted with much feeling tho beautiful words of the 137 th Psalm — " By the rivers of Babylon they sat and wept." Mr Duncan kept the ball rolling from a quarter to 8 until 10 o'clock. Mr Fish, who had rested for a few hours, made his appearance, and " like a giant refreshed," he renewed the battle, and produced a newly-coloured map of the provincial district of Otago. He then proceeded to deliver a lecture on the topography, climate, resources, and other natural advantages which formed the principal Features of the country. He read a leading article from the Obago Daily Times in order to prove the soundness of the position assumed by him on the question under discussion. Nothing of any consequence took place until the adjournment for lunch.

At half- past 2 an adjournment of half an hour was agreed to for the purpose of affording the contending parties an opportunity of arriving at a compromise. At half-past 3 the committee reassembled, and after some discussion it was resolved at a quarter-pasb 4 that a further adjournment until half-past 7 should take place. It would take more space than you have at your disposal to chronicle the numerous incidents which occurred during the discussion. Suffice it to give one of these. During Mr Fish's last speech the members for Sydenbam aud Marsden interrupted frequently, whureupou Mr Bruce rose in his place aud characterised the interruptions as "pertinacious and contumacious." The member for Rangitikei spoke in an ironical style, for he was well aware that the member for Marsden's interpolations were a matter of arrangement between himself and the member for Dunedin South. Both were engaged in the stonewalling tactics, and they thoroughly understood one another. Regarding the member for Sydenham's interruptions, they were merely the result of that gentleman's impetuous and volatile disposition.

Immediately after the adjournment a meeting took place, at which the following members were- present : — Messrs Fish, Thompson (Marsden), Scobie Mackenzie, Fitchett, E. Richardson, Ward, Monk, Anderson, Ballance, Seddon, Hobbs, Withy, John M'Kenzie, Pyke, M'Arthur, Feldwick, Allen, Bruce, Buchanan, Sir George Grey. Mr Scol-iij Mackenzie was voted to the chair. Mr Seddon moved, .and Dr Fitchett seconded the following resolutions : — " That in the opinion of those present the proposed compromise with reference to the Otago Central railway should be: First., that the railway be made to Eweburn ; second, that . the Government construct the line and set aside sufficient land for the purpose, the land so set aside to be disposed of under the land laws for the time being in force in the colony. 3. The extension* of the railway to be commenced and completed with the least possible delay."- These propositions the mover a,nd seconder considered fair and reasonable, and they suggested that they should be adopted by the member for Dunstan, and that uhebillshould be amended to give effect lo the same.

When the House reassembled at half -past 7 the result of the conference was made known, aud a discussion on the subject followed. At 8 o'clock the Premier moved the adjournment of the debate until half-past 2on Monday. This was carried by 63 to 7. The sitting altogether lasted 30 hours.

July 28. I have had an opportunity of gathering further particulars of what took place at the joint meeting yesterday to consider a compromise on the question of the Otago Central railway. There were 22 present, and Mr Scobie Mackenzie was voted to the chair. Mr Mackenzie gflid he would take a brief statement of the views of any members present, and resolutions could then be submitted in accordance with the general view of the meeting. It was then suggested tbat Mr Mackenzie knowing the country as he did should state his opinion first, which he proceeded to do. He said that the object he had in view was not to make a grand trunk line for ' Otago, but merely to prevent the loss, or rather the better utilising of the half-million of money that would be expended by the Crown in taking the railway to Middlemarch. To take the railway there did not open up the country at all. The great thing wai to find tho very nearest point that as a terminus would do any good. That point, in his belief, was Eweburn, about eight milos beyond Taieri lake. That would take the railway 35 miles instead of 142 as proposed in Mr Pyke's bill, and it would leave the terminus well into the Mauiototo plain, and in proximity to the largest settlements. It was with A view to extending this line there that he had voted for. Mr Pyke's bill. Mr Duncan, of Waiiaki; who knew, the country, and is himself a farmer, strongly supported Mr Mackenzie, as

did also Mr John M'Kenzie, of Moeraki. Dr Fitchett and other supporters of Mr Pyke's bill also endorsed this view. Mr Pyke, however, seeing the turn things were taking became very choleric, declared that it was folly to stop the line at Eweburn, and that he would agree to nothing short of Clyde. Then he left the room. In the meantime Mr Seddon drew up the resolutions you have already published; They were put separately by the chairman, and carried by 17 to four. I understand that Mr Mackenzie himself, although entirely satisfied with the Eweburn as a terminal, thinks that the only way to carry out the line is by a syndicate. He declared in the House that he would agree to no more borrowing either for the Otago Central or any other railway. The proposal of the meeting is that the Government should do it by the sale of adjacent lands, and Mr Mackenzie is afraid that on that principle too much land will be required for the purpose. A Cabinet meeting was held this morning to consider the course to be adopted in reference to the Otago Central railway. The result of their deliberations was that the Govcrnmpnt decided they would not support Mr Pyke's bill being proceeded with, but would undertake to expend £40,000 on the line during the current year, in addition to the £20,000 of liabilities already incurred, the total amount to be expended this year being thus £60,000. During the recess they would devise a scheme to provide for a further extension of the line to a point which the House will be asked to fix. July 29. Since the despatch of my previous message I have managed to glean some further information relative to the proceedings in Cabinet in connection with the Ofcago Central. The proposals of Mr Scobie Mackenzie were fully considered, but Ministers decliued to accede to his suggestions. A proposal submitted by Major Steward to the Premier, showing the necessity for continuing the line to Alexandra, was then discussed, and dealt with in a very exhaustive manner. Major Steward made the following suggestions:" That the Premier take up Mr Pyke's bill as a Ministerial measure, and with modifications endeavour to get it passed during the present session ; that the terminal point should be Alexandra, instead of Lake Hawea, thus reducing the length of the J line to be constructed beyond Middlemarch to ] about 80 miles instead of 140 ; that the conces- j sions of land shall not exceed 33 per cent. ; that ! the calculated cost for the purposes of the contract be reduced in accordance with the change of the terminal points from £850,000 to £550,000; \ that a clause be added to the bill empowering the Government to invite offers from persons willing to take up the work under the provisions of the act and schedule, and to stata what concession in land they will require ; that the Government be empowered to enter into a contract with any person or persons willing to accept a less concession than 33 per cent, of land ; that, failing any such more favourable offer being received within six months from date of first advertisement, the Governor be authorised to enter '< into a contract with the syndicate named in the schedule, upon the terms therein set forth." The Premiersaid thathe thought the suggestions were deservingof attention, but the Govemmentcould not under the circumstances act upon them. The opposition shown to Mr Pyke's bill was so strong that the Ministry did not think themselves justified in supporting the measure any further, and therefore they come to the following resolution: — "That the line should be finished as far as Sutton as speedily as possible, and when the contracts already in hand are completed, tenders should be called for a further section. In case the necessities of the unemployed in Otago should render this step desirable, the unemployed should be set to work on the formation of the extra section if it is deemed expedient to go on with it." It will be seen that Mr Scobie Mackenzie's suggestion re Eweburn and Major Steward's proposals anent Alexandra are huag up for the present. The Government next session will submit proposals for the continuation of tbelinetoa point agreed upon by the House. Iv the meantime the line . of action to be taken is the one I have indicated Opponents of the Ministry hint that the occupants of the treasury benches were perpectly aware all along that the measure would not pass, and that they were merely " stringing on " Mr Pyke in order to get that gentleman's support. Mr Pyke has convened a meeting of the supporters of the bill for half-past 1 tomorrow. Before the meeting takes place Mr Pyke is to have an interview with the Premier. Tfce bill is to be made the first order of the day on Monday. Out of 89 possible members, six members being absent, 54 members of the House either voted or paired for the measure, and the member for Dunstan thinks this is a sufficient indication that a large majority favours the passing of the bill.

Since writing the above, I learn that a large number of members are determined on forcing on Mr Scobie Mackenzie's suggestions.

July 31. A meeting of the supporters of the Otago Central Bill was held this morning, when IS members were present. A number of others were engaged on .various committees. Mr Pyke occupied the chair, and the following modifications of the measure were submitted, and agreed to without dissent: — (1) To omit names of the proposed syndicate, and to alter the bill so as to leave it open for the Governnient to call for tenders and enter into a concontract in terms of thß schedule with any persous or company, tenderers to state what concession of land, not exceeding 33 per cent., they will accept. (2) That the terminal point be altered to Clyde, and the estimated cost for the purposes of the contract be reduced to £600,000 (3) That it be provided in the bill, as an alternative proposal, that the Governor be empowered to invite tenders for the construction of the line on the terms that the works already constructed by Government be valued, and that on completion of the contract the company pay to the colony the difference, if any, between the value of the Government works, and the half of the cost of the work executed by the company. (4) That provision be made seeming that if the line be constructed oa the terms of a land concession, the company be requited to admiuister such land in the interests of settlement in conformity with the surveyor-general's recommendation, and that if the alternative proposal be adopted then that, the Government be required to open up for sale and occupation not less than 50,000 acres per annum. (5) To add to subsection of section 25 the following words— viz, "The right of the Crown to resume land said to be auriferons shall be deemed to continue as if such land were alienated by sale or lease."

A deputation consisting of the following gentlemen waited on the Premier after the meeting and laid the foregoing proposals btfore him. Sir Harry promised to bring the matter under the consideration of his colleagues without d^lay if possible, and a decision on them would be arrived at before half-par-t 7 this evening; but if this could not be done, another adjournment until half-past 2 to-morrow (Wednesday) would be asked for. "

After the meeting this morning I sent a note to one of the supporters of Mr Pyke's bill asking him to give me his candid opinion of the measure. _ The gentleman in question- who, by the way, is an Otago representative, sent me the

following reply: — "I find there is an impression in connection with the Otago Central Railway Bill which ought to be removed. That impression is that to continue with the bill must have the effect of checking the progress of the line by the Government. That is not so. The engagements of the Government are embodied in the Public Works Statement and Loan Bill of last session, under which provision has been made to com plete the line to Middlemarch without delay. This is now being done, and friends of the bill on both sides of the House are determined that faith shall be kept in that respect in any case. The bill only proposes to take up the line at the point the Government and Parliament have determined in the meantime not to go beyond, and to continue a work which otherwise would be delayed indefinitely." In any case, to construct the line beyond Middlemarch, the ' point to which the Government must take it under all circumstances^ will involve either a new loan, which means, in the light of past experiences, log rolling and borrowing about a million for the sake of getting about a hundred thousand for some special undertaking such as the bill proposes. So far as getting the House to consent to the works being continued by the Government on the basis of setting aside land revenue for the purpose of the Government to consider such a proposal, it seems at present to be impossible. Whether the fight over the bill may lead to a change of opinion in that respect or not remains to be seen. •

My prediction regarding ' the action of the Government with regard to the Otago Central has been verified. The statement of the Premier this evening anent the construction of the line bears out my forecast. There is no gainsaying the fact that the Miuistry as a Ministry have not been sincere in their treatment of the bill. The Premier has been anxious to' please Mr Pyke, and he has made concessions to that gentleman which he would not have made to any other member of the House. At the same time the Ministry were anxious that the measure should bo defeated, and in fact they believed from the beginning of the dsbate that Mr Pyke's efforts to get the measure passed would prove futile. The discussion on the bill this evening presented very few points worthy of notice. Mr Fish again spread himself out on the question, aud patted the Premier on the back for his pro? posals. He protested against the interruption of certain members who indulged in "buffoonery." The member for Dunedin South read the resolutions passed by the Maniototo County Council regarding the Otago Central, and argued that voices of such a body were deserving of earnest attention. Mr Downie Stewart spoke rather warmly on the subject, protesting; against Mr Fish assuming the role of lecturer to the other members for Otago. He advised the member for Dunedin South to " Kindly speak for himself " in future, and not attempt to represent his colleagues in the representation of Otago. Dr Fitchett spoke earnestly in support of the measure. He charged the Government with "paltering with the question."' The only feature in the discussion worthy of special note was a little passage-at-arms between Mr W. P. Reeves and the Hon. Mr Fergus. Mr Reeves made one of his witty speeches, in which he ridiculed the position taken up by the Premier. He alluded in a joyous manner to the treatment which had been dealt out to the member for Dunstan by the Government, and compared Mr Pyke to a lamb which was led to the slaughter. Mr Fergus made a vigorous speech in reply to Mr Reeves, and gave that gentleman a Roland for his Oliver. The most telling little speech in the discussion was delivered by Mr Allen. The member of Dunedin East argued that the bare fact of all the Dunedin and suburban members with one exception supporting Mr Pyke's bill was proof conclusive that it was a useful measure. Mr Duncan condemned Mr Allen's observations, and adduced his experiences as a miner in order to show that the construction of the railway by a syndicate would be a suicidal step. Mr John M'Kenzie again uttered a forcible protest against the measure, and urged several arguments why the bill should not be passed. Mr Moss made a trenchant attack on the Government for their inconsistency in dealing with Mr Pyke's bill. Mr Fi3h spoke somewhat warmly in reply to the remarks of Mr Downie Stewart, Dr Fitchett, and Mr Allen. He referred to the action of the three gentlemen named at a caucus held on Friday last, stating that at the meeting in question they agreed to certain resolutions which they were now backing out of. He was particularly severe on Dr Fitchett, referring again to some lobby remarks made by that gentleman. Mr Fish spoke with considerable acerbil.y, and worked himself up to a high pitch of eloquence in condemnation of Mr Pyke's bill. He was extremely sarcastic on the member for St. Albans. In referring to Mr Reeves' speech, be said that it was " inane " "flighty," « silly," " stupid," &c. After the supper adjournment Mr Scobie Mackenzie spoke at some length on the necessity of constructing the railway to Eweburn. M c Pyke replied to Mr Mackenzie, and said he was glad to hear that the member for Mount Ida bad at last made up hii- mind. He had watched the hon. member for a long time, and hud invariably found him talking in the one direction] and voting in ths other. He reminded him of a certain animal whose backbone was extrtmly woak. Messrs Turnbull o.ml Rodgkinson made some remarks of an irrelevant character. Mr Seddon entered into an exhaustive crifcioism of the bill, and talked all round the coinpas-s. The Pzemier gave a pretty severe snubbing to Mr Moss. He was in his fighting mood, ami spoko in his most vigorous style. Mr Keir contributed some humorous observations' in support of the bill. Sir Johu HalFb amendment was lost on tl.e voices. A motion to report progress, which r< .-illy meant the carrying of the Premier's proposal, was carried by 28 to 24. This Reds the fate of the Qtago Central for the present session.