Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. FRIDAY, MAY 7, 1886. The East and West Coast Railway.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1829, 7 May 1886, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. FRIDAY, MAY 7, 1886. The East and West Coast Railway.

The provisional contract entered into by the Government with the Canterbury and Nelson promoters for the construction of the East and West Coast and Nelson Railway has been assigned to and taken over by a new company, the prospectus of which has been advertised in the London newspapers. This, in a certain sense, is good news for the colonists, because it will free them from a bugbear. The Meiggs proposal, .which was summarily rejected by Parliament, would have involved the colony in an enormous liability for interest, and was in other ways sc objectionable that it could not be for a moment entertained. The colony has got ril of that scheme, and a company is to take up the undertaking;,©! constructing the proposed railway line. We cannot, however, help thinking that some hitch in the business will yet take place. The orginal report of Mr Blackett showed that a large portion of the country through which the line would pass was of the most difficult character and the land almost worthless. Mr W. C.Buchanan, the hon member for Wairarapa South, when some time back addressing bis constituents, expressed, from personal knowledge of the country, a somewhat similar opinion. Mr Blackett, more recently has eaten his former .words—and according to Sir Julius Vogel—spoken favorably of the country through which the railway line is to pass, but this altered view on his part will scarcely carry conviction amongst the public at large. The whole thing is very puzzling. However, the London Syndicate has got the affair into its hand and is committed “ to carry it through.” By all means let them have the opportunity of doing so. But whether the work will prove profitable and satisfactory,‘or the reverse, we do not care to anticipate. Time will show.