REEFTON RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1189, 30 October 1882, Page 2

REEFTON RAILWAY LEAGUE.

♦ The weekly meeting of ibe menO era of the Executive Committee of tie League was held in the Council Chambers, on Friday last. Present : — Mr \V. Him! marsh (in the chair), Messrs Beech e, Oxley, Gardner, Potts, Collinga and Bankin. Mr A. R. Guinness, Chairman of the Grey County, and Mr A. D. Bayfeild, , memberof the Nelson Railway Committee, were present by invitation. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence was read from the Secretary of the Working Men's Political ssociatiop, Christ-church, asking to be informed what further steps the Association could take to advance the railway movement, and promising energetic cooperation. On the motion of Mr Beeche, seconded by Mr Gardner, it was resolved that the Secretary write to the Working Men's Political ' ssociation, Cbristchurch, thanking that body for its welcome intervention, ami requesting its members to use their utmost influence wilh Canterbury representatives, in urging the construction of the 'Vest Coast , railway upon the governmentLetter read from the Chairman of the Industrial Association, Christchurch, acknowledging recept of letter from the Secretary of the T?eefton League, and promising to lay the same before the first meeting of the Association. Mr Hind marsh said he had been requested by the members of the Reefton League to invite Mr A. !.'. Guinness Chairman of the Groy County Council, to attend that niwht,, and felt sure" that the meeting would be ;_'l;ul to hear any remarks which Mr Onimu^-s might feel disposed to tnakn in reference to the subject of the East and West Const 'ail wayMr Guinness said that although only visiting Peofton in his privm'e capacity, he had gladly accepted the invitation to attend that night. For his own part, and he thought he could apeak on behalf of the inhabitants of the Grey County generally, they were fully sensible of the great importance of the subject of railway communication between the East and West Coast. A letter on the subject had been received by the Grey County Council from the Secretary of the Reef ton League, but as no meeting of the Counoil had since been held, no action upon it had been taken. He felt sure however, that the League could rely upon the co-operation of the Council, and a reply to that effect would beforwardedimmediately after the next meeiing. It had been in cotemplation for some time past to call a public meeting in Greymoiith to ventilate the matter, and a requisition to that end had been duly signed by the bulk of the leading residents, but owing to the Mayor being absent fvom the Grey at present nothing could be done. He (Mr Guinness) could however, promise that directly upon the return of his Worship, now daily expected, the meeting would be held. In any case the meeting would be held not later than nest week, when no doubt an influential committee would be formed to aid the movement in concert with the Reefton League. It was now generally recognised throughout the West Coast that the opportunity was ripe for urging the important undertaking upon the notice of the Government an& he felt sure that Greymouth as the western terminus of the line would not be behind hand in doin« what was to be • dono in fu the ranee of (hat aim. He was , glad to have brrm afforded the opportunity ; <>f attending that evening and congratui lali'd tbo Commit lve upon the energetic *te % .).i leitig taken at Reefton in ru'way ■ mnit 'vV'.'.ii.'vuHy. He thanked the Com- ! iiiitt • r fur the courtesy extended. j ! '!'?••■ Chairman said that advantage of M: 1 !' ii ~: i! :V ;>i •■3iM)-.:o i;i I'vof'on had al-h-i ■'■•■■■ >;■•'•. ••! *•• iip-if.- i liar • ntleman to • ' !•■•• ■■■••■!. -<•> i k fit. sure that "' - '' ■■■■■■' ■•■ "■] . '•!■• .!;.. U> hear him

upon the subject they all had in view. Mr Bayfeild said, that although a member of the Nilson }. ail way Committee, he attended that night merely as a private individual. The subject of railway communication was, however, one of special interest to him, and he had readily accuptud the invitation to be present that night. He had heard a good deal upon the subject of railway communication since he came to leefton, and he was rather surprised to find that a slight misconception existed in some minds as to the .object? of the Nelson agitation. It seemed to be thought that in advocating there the Central, or Main Trunk me, as against the East Coast route, the Nelson people were in reality setting themselves in opposition, or rather witholding their weight and influence from the advocacy of the West Coast route. Now this was entirely a mistake, Nelson was as anxious to obtain railway co'.nnuinuiition with the West Coast as CautHtluny w.13, but the Nelson people felt that tlnvy had two things to do. In the first place, their great aim was to iMidi-'avom- to prevent the hue being taken along- the East Coast, and in this they reliocl upon the hearty support and concurrence, not only of the whole of the West Coast, but of Canterbury also. In i the next place, Nelson relied upon the , (government keeping faith with i^s past j pledges, and completing the main trunk ! line through the South Island. This line, i as they were aware, embraced through communication from the Bluff to Nelson. To this work the Colony had been already i pledged, and there was no doubt, in his mind at all events, that the railway system of this Island would never be complete until that connection was established. To his mind the que&lion appeared to resolve itself into this. :— Would the West Coast be content to agitate for a branch line from the main trunk system just alluded to, or did they simply require a line from Christchuic'.i via the Cannibal Gorge to j Greymouth via Rcefton. If the former, j there could he no possible disagreement in the aims of the .Nelson and West Coast poople, but if the latter, it would be at once obvious that the West Coast agitation and the P'elson agitation were for two different lines. For his own part he believed that the Central line would be made, and he saw no reason to doubt that the separate West Coast line would also be niiide. It still, however, remained to be seen whether the line north from Amberley, could not be so taken as to serve both the Central and West Coast lines in one. For all he knew this might be done, in which case they would be unanimous at all events up to the point of divergance, which it was possible might be somewhere in the neighborhood of the 1 aruia. He was "hid to have attended the meeting that night, and a3 he would be in Nelson in the course of i day or two. he would be able to explain there the exact nature of the aims of the Heefton League. He thanked the meeting for their invitation, and the courtesy shown him. On the motion of Mr Oxley, seconded by Mr Beeche, votes of thanks were passed to both Mr Guinness, and • r Bayfeild, for their attendance and explanations. It was resolved that the Secretary communicate with both Mr G. Walker, and Mr Fowler, Maruia, inviting their assistance on the occasion of the Royal Commission travelling over the Cannibal Gorge route. Mr Pott 3 suggested that as a sub-com-mittee had been appointed in Reefton to collect statistics re the interchange of freights, etc., between the East and Weat Coast, tho Groy County Council might be iuvited to assist in the same direction. Mr Guinness thought ho could safely promise that such would be done. The committee to be appointed in Greymouth would be requested to furnish the fullest possible information on the subject. The advisability of appointing a committee to meat the Commissioners at \mberley and escort them over the Maruia, was suggested, but the matter was adjourned pending some more certain information as to the movements of the Commission. The meeting then adjourned.