The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1882.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1184, 25 September 1882, Page 2

The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1882.

Owing no doubt in a great degree to the inclement night, and partly to the fact that private buisness occupied a great many of the members oi" the Railway League, on Thursday evening last, the meeting called for that occasion was but sparsely attended, and it was thought advisable to adjourn till this day, (\londay). It is sincerely to be hoped, that the attendance to-night at the Council Chamber will be large, and that the enthusiasm that characterised the public meeting, will not be allowed to flag, for indiil'erence on the part of the residents here merely means the diversion of the railway line via the East Coast, and isolation of the Inan gahua for an indefinite number of years, to che direct loss of every member of the community, and to the material checking of the advancement of the district generally. The Christchurch residents are anxious and willing to help in the agitation, but naturally expect the people of this locality, to take an active part in what so essentially concerns them and their interests, and surely as a matter of selfinterest only, to take the most selfish ground, there will be no holding back now. It has been said, that' the resolution requiring the contribution of a guinea, from each member of the League

had a great deal to do with the scanty attendance on Thursday last ; in order to disprove such a libel, we hope that to-night every man nominated will show*up, in addition to any others who are interested in the question. Considering that the value of a railway can only be estimated to every member of the community, as representing hundreds of pounds, it is not at all probable that a paltry admission fee can have deterred people trom being present. The County Chairman, and indeed all the members of the Council, have shown the most praiseworthy interest in the matter, and it is quite certain, that an application to that body for necessary aid will be favorably entertained, and a meeting will be hold on Wednesday next, at which the same may be made, if a resolution to that effect be agreed on at the meeting this evening. But that it must be distinctly understood, will by no means absolve the public from its obligation to give all possible assistance in purse and person ; expense? must be incurred, and money found to carry on with, if a successful issue is to be attained. The appointment of a small Executive Committee and officers out of the bulk of the general committee, is the chief business of the meeting to-night, and till this done, nothing like work will be done. In other places, they j are active in favor of both the East and West routes. A rumor has ob- j tamed currency, but is not worthy of credence, that the large landholders, j who are so specially interested in the line going eastwards, have already earwigged a majority of members of the ; Mouse, and have secured promises of I support when the final decision is ■ arrived at in Parliament, We do not ! believe a word of it, and even if they have, under the influence of false representations, given in a kind of qualified j adhesion to that lino, when the Com- j mission on the strength of evidence that ought to be, and no doubt will be, submitted to them, have given in their report, the West Coast line will be unanimously adopted. We may add, en passant, that the Nelson people have been specially energetic, and have already secured the services of Mr Rochford. C. E. who has consented to tindertjfke a through examination of the proposed central route, which is expected to settle all the presumed difficulties by the western route. A rather significant fact, and one that indicates pretty clearly the intention ot* the Government if possible, to adopt the easttrn line is, that a bridge across the- Waiau, fourteen miles from the point of the route upwards, from Ainberly at present surveyed, is nearly completed, and is constructed so as to form both a general tratlic and a railway bridge ; this, lc it remembered is on the eastern lino. Mr Fowler, a resident in the district, a< present in Reefton, gives us this infor mation. He further says, that the point to which the railway is surveyed is called the Red Post, and it will be from this that the line nvist diverge, either east, or west, through the wastes of the squatters properties, or the populous centres of the, Wi-st Coast, The bridge must prove a warning to .11 how the Government are likely to go, even if thi-y h;.d not proposed and warmly s-p:nrtrd ilni "Blenheim route during the session of Parliament iust concluded. After hr.ving however, concefii'd the Coniinii-sion, they cannot draw biick or refuse to adopt its report

if backed by evidence that enn bo readily afforded. In order to provide this is the chief end nnd object of the present agitation, and to fiurnish it will, wo trust, be the earnest and immediate work of the League here, acting in concert with other places. We do hope therefore that there will be no more lukewannness in the matter, that the meeting to-night will bo crowded, and that the energy and activity absolutely necessary where such a vast interest is at stake, will not only characterise the proceedings to-day, but will be shown daily and weekly, till the threatened danger of isolation is passed, and the battle is fairly won. T\vi people have the result in their own hands, and on their i own heads will fall the consequences.