If it Trent into committee a large number of detailed clauses would have to be introduced. The bill provided for the appointment of a controlling Board by the Superintendent and Provincial Conncil. If the Council affirmed the principle, he would move that the bill bo referred to a select committee. Mr. J. O'Neill protested against the diversion of this money from its original purpose, while other works of greater importance were ne glected, and especially as they hud heard there would be very little surplus revenue thia year. He believed in railways, but thought they could be better carried out by private companies. He also thought that so large a work should be undertaken by an in-coming rather than by an out-going Govcenment. Mr. Harrop said he believed in private enterprise alone, and was sure that the Gorern ment would find the undertaking more difficult than they had calculated upon. Mr. Lynch was also entirely opposed to this , vote at the present time. He considered it j [ unjust thus to take advantage of a loan, to be j raised for great public purposes, by the consent of members who were opposed to a railway. He would rather sec immigration and laud pur chase carried on first. The interest and sinking fund of this loan would greatly decrease the revenue of this province for a long time ; and he thought that, seeing that all the attention of the General au-l Provincial Government was being entirely directed to the South at this j time, they might rest satisfied without this railway. He was convinced that there was no revenue to spare for interest and sinking fund ; it was all required for public works. He would | consent to giving a guarantee to a private com pany. He liad no faith in the proposed com missioners ; believing that they would disagree i with the Government in a few months, and the work fall through. He trusted to see tho bill modified in committeo, so as only to go to Onehunga at present. Ho would not object to that, but thought the settlement of the South not sufficiently developed to enable them to determine in what direction the main line should run. Mr. Ross also opposed the bill. 