RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2503, 17 May 1909, Page 5

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

liALCILCTHA’S WANTS

[Per Press Association.]

BALCLUTHA, May 15,

As the result of interest stirred up in matters of railway construction in Otago by the stoppage of the LawrenceRoxburgh railway construction works, a very large and influential meeting was held at Baltlutha last night to urge upon the Government the advisability of building a railway up the Clutha Valley to Tuapeka- Mouth, and further if possible. It was pointed out that the railway by following this route would give one' hundred thousand acres of splendid agricultural and pastoral land in the Clutha Valiev- railway facilities, and would also provide a ready outlet for produce from that large and fertile Central Otago district, of which Roxburgh is the centre. It was urged in favor of this railway that there were absolutely no engineering difficulties to encounter, as in other routes proposed for a railway in the direction of Roxburgh, for bv following the fertile valley "of the Clutha river it could reach its goal over comparatively level country and on an easy grade. It was stated' that the ferry service at present at Clutha was obsolete and inconvenient, and that the proceeds of the endowment now devoted to the assistance of the ferry might bo set off against the cost of the railway. Arrangements were made for a strong deputation to wait upon a member of the Cabinet at the winter show at Dunedin shortly, m connection with the proposed railway, and a league, thoroughly representative of the district, and with the Mayor of Balclutha as president, was formed to urge upon the residents and the Govornniout tlio necessity of construct ins a railway up Clutha Valley.