The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1885.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1596, 4 September 1885, Page 2

The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1885.

A public meeting was held at the Council Chambers on Wednesday evening last for the purpose of considering matters in connection with the East and West Coast and Nelson railway. Mr J. C. Craij, acting County Chairman, was voted to the chair, and explained that he had convened the meeting at the request of a number of residents in the town who took an active interest in the railway question. At the time it was decided to call the meeting, however, the impression was that the Government would be able to cany their financial proposals for commencing the line, but according to the latest information from Wellington the matter was still involved in some doubt, and this boing so he did not think it would be prudent at present, to take any definite action. There was evidently a strong power at work in Wellington to prevent the passing of the vote, and the best course seemed to be to adjourn the meeting until the vote was actually carried He thought, however, that they might proceed with the formation of a Railway League. Mr Hankin said there was nothing like agitation, but he did not see that anything could be done until the vote was actually carried. Speaking of that portion of the railway between Greymouth and Reefton Mr Hankin said he had made an estimate of the probable receipts of the line, and calculating the freight and traffic at half the current rates, and upon the basis of present needs, be found that the line would return a profit of £10,000 annually, which was equal to 4^. per cent, upon the estimated outlay of £150,000. He had taken the present coach traffic and waggon loading as the basis of the calculation, but it could reasonably be expected that the completion ipf the*line would largeiy augment both the'passenger traffic and freight and so increase the profit. He submitted that in expending any money on the East and West Coast and Nelson railway Government should endeavor to connect recognised centres, and not fritter the money away in constructing patches of railway that would be unprofitable, un--. til the whole line was completed. JVlr Williams did not think there was any doubt as to the ability of the Government to carry the vote, and it was therefore the duty of the people here to represent the advantages to be derived; from completing the line from Brunnerton to Reefton. Mr Joice agreed that the line from Reefton to Brunnerton would pay well. Mr Cohen concurred in this, but thought there would be some opposition on the part of other localities to the expenditure of the whole vote in the Grey and Inangahua districts. However, it was premature yet to discuss that question, what he wished to suggest was that an invitation should be sent by the Railway League here to Mr Holmes and the leading members of the Christchurch Railway League to pay a visit to the West Coast.* They could come over by way of Cannibal Gorge, and could be met at Marti ia by a Reefton deputation. This would enable the gentlemen in question to see the country for themselves and would no doubt strengthen their advocacy of the line. Perhaps it would be premature at present to put this as a formal motion, but this much he thought they might do, namely past a vote of thanks to Mr Holmes for his able advocacy of the line in the House. Mr Beeche thought it would be rather invidious to thank Mr Holmes individually. Mr Wise suggested as a better plan that a resolution of thanks should be passed to Mr Menteath, M.H.R., and that the latter gentleman should he requested to convey the thanks of the meeting to all those gentlemen in the House who had advocated the line. Mr Potts thought the object would be better effected by passing a rote of thanks to Mr Menteath, and the Government, which necessarily included all the supporters of the work. The Government had certainly gained the gratitude and good will of the peoplo of the West Coast for their eff >rts on huhalf of the railway. It was moved by Mr Cohen, seconder! by Mr Oxley, and carried—* 1 That the th inks of this meeting be tendered to Mr Monteath, M.H.R., and the Government, for their strenuous efforts and support in Uynf of the East, and West Coast ana* Nelson railway. Tliis was carried unanimously. Mr Connolly referred to the alvissbjlUy of having an active Railway I League in our midst to keep the agitation, I alive. He un<le<'st.ood that it was a part, J of the business of the meeting to form a ' hwf\v) Mr Hankin argued that the old 1 Raih'-';ty League whs still in fcxi;<t«nc«. , Mr Connolly said great chuiiges had takun ) '

place since the old league was formed. Many people had left the district, and even the character of the railway now agitated for was not the same. He preferred to see a new league formed, but to gave time he would move that the Railway League be reformed. Mr Hankin contended that this was quite unnecessary aa the old league was still in existence. The question then dropped. Mr Wise then moved -That the County Chairman communicate with the Canterbury and Nelson Railway Leagues and arrange a basis of action and co-operation. This was seconded by Mr Hankin. It was then arranged that a further public meeting should be convened for Wednesday evening next. The proceeding then closed with a vote of thanks to the Chair. In the course of the discussion at the railway meeting on Wednesday evening last the question of the coal resources of the Inangahua was referred to, when a very important piece of information was elicited. Mr W. Williams mentioned that he had received a specimen of coal obtained from a seam near the Cannibal Gorge, and it was as tine a sample of coal as we had ever seen. It was given to him by Mr Coombs, who obtained it while on the survey staff at Maruia. Mr Juice could corroborate the statement just made. He himself had also seen a sample of the coal and there was no question it was of a very superior quality. We gather that no reply has yet been received from the Government in reference to the establishment of a Cadet Corps in Reefton, but the necessary documents have been prepared and forwarded, and a reply authorising the formation of the Corps is expected in the course of a day or two. In the meantime the youngsters, it seems, are very anxious to be enrolled, and have already made considerable advance in their drill, Captain Bnrnham having fixed a separate parade for them. Messrs Ching, Mitchell and Garven canvassed the town on Wednesday last for subscriptions in aid of th«.» widow and family of the late Mr J. Fletcher, and met with pretty good success, considering the present depression, and scarcity of money. The suggestion made in reference to the further prospecting of the Gulden Fleece Uuited mine has been ree;-iv.?fl with some favor here, but until the matter take* the form of a definite proposal, either from the present company, or from shareholders interested, it is hard to see how anything practical can result. Bad and all as the times are, enterprise is not, we are glad to say, wholly dead, and any reasonable proposition for remanninii the mine would no doubt meet with support from the business and ither residents, but until the i conditions of that support are made known to them they are naturally disinclined to commit themselves. We trust the proposal will not be allow ud to fall through withont some definite proposition being put forward. Our report of the Presbyterian Church gathering on Wednesday evening is held over for next issue. Judging from the following extracts, the Licensing Bill now before the Victorian Parliament has given rise to a good deal of intemperate language. Mr Bent asked his friend (Mr Anderson) if he had not been to the Melbourne Cup.— Mr Adderson : No. — Mr Bent : Then I say Lord help you. You do not knew what life is if you have not been to the Melbourne Cup. At that gathering, i which was attended regularly by tens of thousands of people, there was no drunkenness, and the same might be said of the great cricket and football meetings. *.t their tea- meetings he had seen more people drunk than at the meetings he had referred to.— (Laughter.) Liter on the following dialogue took pla^e : - Mr Bent : If I were in oUce two days now, such an evil (the sale of liquor in Melbourne Clubs at all hours) would not exist very long. The hon. member has made several misleading statements this evening, but I have not take n him in baud yet. When I do he will suffer.— Mr Gillies : Go it. Mount Vesuvius. - Mr Gardiner : He will burst very soon. (Laughter.)— Mr Bent remarked that when the volcano burst some of the lava might drop on the hou. member's skulls, to the injury of their heads, but not their brains. (Loud laughter.) The Ashburton Mail says:— "The Courtenay Agricultural and Pastoral Association have unanimously passed resolutions urging on the Government the construction of the East and West Coast Railway not by placing on the Estimates a sum of £150,000, which would be the construction of the work by piocemeal legislation, resulting in no material benetit, but by a public lohii or private Company, carrying out as a whole one of the most important and beneficial undertakings oft he present generation. 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