MEETING ON THE RAILWAY QUESTION.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1182, 20 September 1882, Page 2

M EETING ON THE RAILWAY QUESTION.

The adjourned meeting, convened by the County Chairman, in response to a requisition, was held on Monday evenin" last at the Oddfellows' Hall. The attendance was lai-ge, and nearly every business man in the district was present, tie greatest interest being shown in the proceedings. The Chairman. opened the business by stiting that the meeting had been convened for the purpose of agitating witli l'espcct to railway communication between tlie East and West Coasts of the island. T.io subject was not a new one, for it had been considered years ago, and it had lately attracted considerable attention on both sides of the range. The movement now commenced would have the ett'eot of putting matters in a practical shape, and that was the object of the meeting. There was no doubt a railway, such as they sought, would pay, the mineral resources of the district, and their attractions being sufficient in themselves t<> create traHic both in goods and passengers. He enumerated the various metals, minerals, and timbers, that had been found in the district, and pointed out that the East Coast would supply the wants of the West, and the latter would furnish the former with minerals and timber that it needed. He referred to the rapid increase of population in the district, and commented on the fact of a few rich runholders in the Blenheim district, aided by members of the House of Representatives, who were vulnerable, doiug all they could to secure a line in that direction. If the public here were apathetic in the matter they would find that this line would be made. In one of the Loan bills recently passed, there was a sum of £'180.000 put down for the extension of the railway from Amberley northwards by way of Blenheim. Should that be so expended there would be little chance of the main trunk line coming this way. He, therefore, had great pleasure in proposing the tirst resolution as follows : —

"That this meeting affirms the desirability of railway communication with Canterbury, as the only means of profitable interchange of products between the East and West Coasts of the Middle Tsland. In addition to which may be added the sure and certain development of the hitter's vast mineral resources, which at present are comparatively dormant."

Mr Hindiuarsh had \nuc!i ploasuro in Hoconcling the above resolution. • There could be liv two opinions as to the necessity for a railway for the development of the resources of the district. If they all put their shoulders to the wheel, ho had no doubt they would got it. The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously. Mr H. U. Hankin moved the second resolution which, he remarked, would at ■once commend itself. It was as follows : —

" That with :i viow to give ett'eet to tlio previous resolution, the residents of the

County of Inaugahu{£ (constitute themselves a ti&ilway League to effectively agitate, and cordially assist by all constitutional means to the movement." \«IK There could be no J^rence of opinion on this subject, Airafpp would remind those present of t thl^d phrase which taught that "'GtidheraiV- those who help themselves." AlUhrfßßi ; in this matter, pull together, and thei^y obtain cheaper means of transit beWtg U^the coasts. All knew that this field j||tees3ed the most vast mineral resources felaie Colony. He himself had been in tlillclisLrict for many years, and he did noPjntend to budge from it till he was a rich man, which he hoped to be one of .tWßpdays, and these days would be shortenMif they got railway communication, fie thought it was the imperative duty <»SH|hG Counties of Inangahua, Buller, anWfrey, to join in the movement. A most eKthusiastic feeling prevailed in Canterbury on the subject, and they could hardly|roalise the spirit and interest that the people there threw into it. In this distric*! ,he was sorry to see such little interest snWn. All people seemed to care for was the sale of scrip, and if that was accomplished they were satisfied. It was not to\> late, however, to alter all that, and he hoped one and all would throw their enecgiljs into the matter, and make it a success*" Mr T. Lje seconded wk resolution, and trusted that the public Vpuld provide the sinews of war, for moitey would be required to procure evidence, and pay, wituesses for the Oommiswjjji The motion was put ami "tarried unanimously.

The Chairman said that the next resolution had been entrusted to Mr G. Wise, but that gentleman was not present, ami he asked some one else to move it in his stead.

Mr H. G. Hankin then came forward, and proposed it as follova :—

" That »• Railway Leigue, consisting of the following gentlemen, be elected with power to add their number : — Messrs Breunan, Oxley, Chine, Potts, Aiken, Hankin, Lynch, Jones, Dawson, Gardner, Mirtin, Wise, Bowman, Collings, Connolly, Watson, ijee, Trcnnery, Hindmarsh, Irving, Kilgour, Beeche, Bnclmu, W. Dunn, Faler, Kater, Sheppard, M'--1 aughlin, Grieve, Williams, Hunter, Byrne, and H. Graham."

Mr Beeche seconded it, at the same time expressing a hope that the previous names would be largely augmented.

The motion wa3 earned without dissent, and the Chairman then called on anyone to nominate members of committee. In response, no less than 101 names in all were given in, including those previously appointed, comprising all the leading people of the district.

Mr Lynch moved the next resolution as follows : —

"That the sum of £1 la. per member be subscribed to cover incidental expenses, for the purposes of procuring all necessary evidence to be laid before the Royal Commission appointed to take evidence as to the railway route most beneficial to the Colony."

He thought it was a very practical resolution, without which, the other would be useless. It must commend itself to all, for without funds they couid not give the needed evidence before the Royal Commission, as to the practicability of a route via Reofton, and its cost. This would be far leas than was estimated two years ago. He was glad to hear the enthusiasm with which the proposal was received, and he hoped that the guilioa would be readily paid (cheers).

Mr James Connolly seconded the vesolution, .and remarked ' thii£ it was no use 'going to war without the ainewa of war. It might be desirable to send delegates to Christchurch, to hold meetings on the subject, and make if possible, a kind of demonstration there. The present Government had no sympathy with this district, and would only do what they could not help, so it was necessary to bring all possible influence to bear on them. If they sent delegates to Christchurch, they could not do so without expense, and hu considered this most necossaiy. The pr snt Government he considers! was a Conservative Government, and would, by their policy enrich those who were rich already, as s'.iown by their proposal to carry the railway through lands bought up by a few men. It was a question for the people to say, whether they would lie by and see money wasted in a portion of the Colony that did not want it as they did.

The resolution was put and carried unanimously. $

Mr VI 'Lean asked and obtained permission to say a few words, and in his remarks stated, that he thought the public were making a mistake, in not constructing the required railway by a Company. If the sum of, say £50,000, was subscribed by the people of the Colony, the balance would be readily obtained" in England, capitalists having assurance thereby of the buna *i<lrs of the* enterprise. He spoke at some length in support of t K is view but did not secure the sympathy of the meeting. Mr Connolly said, that they wanted the Government to make the railway, and there would then be no necessity for the company suggested by Mr M'Lean.

The Chairman remarked, that if the railway were made, it would amp'y pay both interest and sinking fund. Mr M'Leau urged that in the Railway Construction Act of last year, special provision had been made for this line, and till that \ct had been repealed nothing could be done.

Mr Jones said it was absurd to ask t!iem to alter their minds, and the Act in question could not in any way affect the matter at issue. It did not say that they mitxt make the railway, it merely stated that they might do so if they thought tit. It was not necessary to waste further argument on the subject.

Mr M'L'jan said the line would not be payable, on which a voice said. "It's our business to show it is."

Mr W. Gr. Collings proposed the next resolution : —

" That this meeting cordially endorses the resolutions passed at the various public meetings lately in Canterbury affirming the desirability for the construction of a line of railway between the Kast and West Coasts, and Avill heartily support, and co-operate with all interested in the movement."

Ho remarked that other places, Canterbury ami Otago, were as anxious for the railway as wis wore. Though we wore a little late in taking action, we were not loss in earnest. He deprecated tlie idea of a private railway, and did not think that it would ever pay. He spoke nf the largo pvultalili; traffic between this and the East Coast, from here metals minerals and timber could be sent, an-.l Canterbury could produce all the necess;:rie3 of life. A railway would bring people here to see what they invested in, and they could accomplish the trip in, saj' a week, at an expense of £10, whereas now

they would take at least a month, and rt a cost of £50 to £GO. There was a lot of capitiil lying idle awaiting investment, 'in flic Colony, which would readily be placed here if people c'uuld tirst see for themselves, what they were investing in. A railway would- cheapen food and bring more investors, (a voice, "yesarid cheapen labor V). It might have that effect, but it would give twice the 'employment, and if the work-ing man could get his tucker at a far le s co.t, he would be better off at even less wages. Take potatoes for instance, they were selling in Canterbury at £2 per ton, and people knew what they cost hero, legs of mutton there were sold for a shilling, and other things in proportion. A railway would bring capital, and would have the effect nf opening up dormant mi: e-., which would not be worked out in a few years, but would be permanent.

• r Wm. Gardner seconded the resolution, and said that it was generally supposed there was no practicable route from here to the anterbuiy country, but this was a great mistake as there was such a route. He had been over the County himself, and he explained that so far from the V aruia river being diverted, as shown on Government maps, at the Spencer range, it cut through the heart of that range, and that thei-e was a low saddle, the .\da Pass, over which one could gallop but for the bush. The difficulty of the route being removed, what possible further objection could be. urged? The fact wa3 that a ring had been formed when Mr Blair passed over the country, and his report was not favorable in consequence. He stated that in company with a Government surveyor, Mr Wilson, and Mr Walker, they started from the Pass one morning at 7 o'clock, and reached Reefton at 2 a.m. the next morning, after staying some time to feed their horses. After the Ada saddle all difh'cultius ceased. There were no rivers to be bridged, the only bridge that would be required being one not as large .as the one here over the Inangahua. As good a road could easily be made as the Grey road, and a railway could as readily be constructed. If a railway line did not come to this place, it would be the fault of the Government and Heady-money ivobinson, and not owing to any difliculties in construction.

The resolution was put, and carried unanimously. Mr Shepherd moved the next resolution : —

11 That in the opinion of this meeting, the Secretary to the Reefton liaihvay League should communicate with the respective secretaries or chaimie.i of similar bodies in reference to furnishing the ttoyal Railway Commission with any information in support of the contention." He suggested that the committee should communicate with the Chamber of Commerce in Duncdiu, as the business people of that place would gladly assist in getting the proposed line, in tinier to secure trade that now was done with W elling-

Mr Grieve seconded, and the resolution was carried unanimously,

\ vote of thanks ti> the chair, terminated the proceedings.