EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1204, 6 December 1882, Page 2

EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

♦ In accordance with an announcement made, a public meeting was held in the Oddfellows' Hall, on Saturday evening last, to protest against the action of the Government in withholding from the Railway Commission instructions to inquire into the practicability of the Cannibal Gorge route. Mr J. B. Beeche was voted to the chair, and having explained the business before the meeting he called upon Mr Connolly to propose the first resolution. In the course of his remarks Mr Connolly said, he thought a good deal of blame in the matter rested with Mr Rolleston, Minister of Mines, as that gentleman had visited the West Coast and was well aware of the importance of railway communication to this part of the Colony, and moreover, had been loud in his commendation of the mineral resources of the West Coast. He moved :— " That this meeting views with distrust ihe action of the Government in ignoring instructions to the Royal Commission to examine the Ada Pass route for railway purposes, inasmuch, as incontrovertible evidence can be adduced by plans executed by officers of the Public Works Department, that engineering difficulties in the construction of a railway are reduced to a minimum, as compared with other projected lines." Mr C. B. King moved — " That in the opinion of this meeting the interests of the Colony at large, as well as local requirements, would be served by the construction of the main trunk line of railway northwards, via the Maruia Plains to Nelson, and from thence to the Straits." The motion was secouded by Mr W. Dunn, and carried. Mr Hankin moved— " That in the opinion of this meeting, which utters the convictions of the inhabitants of the West Coast, — it is essential and necessary to the interests of the people to be connected by railway with the last Coast of the Middle Island as a joint means, on the one hand of cheapening the necessaries of life, and on the other of profitably developing and working the mineral resources of this portion of the Colony." Seconded by Mr Lee, and carried. Mr W. Gardner moved — " That a reference to the survey plan of this portion of the Island shows the geographical situation of the Ada Pass, Cannibal Gorge, to be unquestionably ihe very central line, as borne out by the experiences of Government officers of the Survey Department, and private individuals, who have traversed the various passes, — the adoption of which route to the Straits would only necessitate a branch line of 29 miles to connect Reef ton with the settled districts." Mr Joice seconded tdc resolution, which was put and carried. Proposed by Mr W. Dunn — " That the inhabitants on this side of the range thoroughly endorse the action of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, and other corporate bodies in urging the Government to extend the powers of the Royal Commission, or appointing a Special Commission for the purpose of investigating and taking evidence on the advantages of the Ada Pass route and pledge themselves to support the same by all constitutional means." The motion was seconded by Mr C, B. King, and carried. MrJ. Connolly moved — "That the foregoing resolutions be forthwith telegraphed to the Government, to ensure the furnishing of evidence in the report to be laid before the next ensuing Parliament. Mr Campbeil seconded the motion, and it was carried. The following reply was received by the secretary yesterday. Wellington, December sth. To W. G. Hankin Esq., Reefton.— Your telegram of to-day reporting resolutions come to by a public meeting at Reefton has been received, the Government had already to some extent anticipated the wish of that meeting by having on the 24th ult., asked the Com* missionera to report on the West Coast route, to which a reply has been received that the Commissioners have made such inquiries as would enable them to furnish the information required by the Government. I may further add, that without giving instructions to report on any route specially, the Government proposes to have a flying survey made, and to collect such further information as may be sufficient to enable the Assembly to deal with the matter. Thos. Dick.