VOTE OF £105,000 PASSED CONDITIONALLY.
While tho Public Works estimates were under consideration this morning the vote for the North Island Trunk Railway Works gave rise to con*iderab!e discussion. The Auckland members, especially Messrs Thos. Thomnon and fcjliera resisted the vote for continuanco of work on the Central route, and urged that it should be delayed til! after tho report af the Railway Routes Committee was presented to the House. They pointed out that it would bo most unfair to pnss the vote while the question of tho advisability of con tinuing the works was in euepenae. Ultimately Mr Seddon gave a pledge that if the vote were paseed the Government would nevertheless give every weight to the report when presented, and on the undertaking that the question would be in no way projudicod by the pas sing of the vote, the Auckland membors allowed the vote to be agreed to on the voices. Tho Minister's assurance is understood to bo equivalent to a promise that if the Committee's report; wero found to be in favour of the Stratford route, the vote would be diverted, or at any rate that no further expenditure would take place this year on tho Central lino. Two divisions wero taken by the Auck land membors this morning on the vote for expenditure on the central line. The motions were to reduce the vote as an indication that the money ehould only be expended in the direction recommended by tho Railway Routes Committee, but they were defeated by large majorities.
GLADSTONE'S FOREBODINGS.
