MR RICHARDSON AT FORTROSE

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3568, 8 March 1886, Page 3

MR RICHARDSON AT FORTROSE

(By Telegraph.) Inveboabgili,. March 7. MrG. F.Richardson, member for Mataura, addressed tho electors at Fortroso on Friday night. In opening ho commented on the peculiar mode Ministers had of going about tho country m a somi-privato way, and complained that tho Hon. Mr Ballanco had never intimatod to him that he would visit his district, henco ho could not accompany him. Referring to the East and West Coast line, he asserted that it was within his knowledge that although Sir Julius Yogel had said he took tho earliest opportunity to lay Meiggs' offer boforo tho House, that prior meetings of thoso interested wero held m Sir Julius Vogel's house, at which Stato papers and cablegrams wero read and used before the House saw them. Stress was laid by the promoters on tho enhancement m value of alternate blocks along tho lino by its construction, but tho fact was that tho land was not thcro neither for tho Government nor a syndicate if it was taken as specified " ten miles back from the lino or to tho nearest water shed." Government know this. Ho had worked out tho cost of tho lino on tho basis of ultimate purchase by Government, and found it would cost £7,400,000. Ho would not bo surprised if it took the £10,000,000 loan to do it. No ongineer could approximate tho cost of tho work unless ho doubted his estimates. Referring to the Government cry that Captain Russell's amendment rotlucing the expenditure by half a million was a reason why they could not give local bodies assistance, ho pointed out that wbilo the Opposition reduced the votes it also reduved the expenditure to a greater extent, so that Government was really better off financially than if Captain Russell's amendment had not been carried. Ho gavo tho Government's action re tho East and West Coast Railway as his reason for joining tho Opposition. Mr Richardson was well received, and wus awarded a voto of confidence.