EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 787, 7 November 1882, Page 2

EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

The delegates from different public bodies in Canterbury, appointed at the invitation of his Worship the Mayor, met yesterday afternoon at three o’clock, in the City Council Chambers, Christchurch to take into consideration “ the advisableness of forming a convention or Railway League for the purpose of pointing out to the Government that it will be more to the interest of Canterbury, Westland, and the colony at large, that the share of the loan for railway purposes allocated to the colony for a line from liurunui northwards, should be applied in the construction of a lino from Hurunui to the West Coast.”— Besides the various County Councils, Road Boards, and Municipal Councils in the province, invitations had been issued to the following bodies ;—The Corn Ex change, the Chamber of Commerce, the Working Men’s Poliiioal Association, the Industrial Association, the Agricultural Association, and the Farmers’ Co-opera-tive Association. —About sixty gentlemen were present, and the chair was occupied by his Worship the Mayor.—The chairman, in opening the meeting, explained that the City Council had called it together in consequence of s weral communications they had received from different parts of the province, requesting them to co-oper-ate in railway matters, and ihey had thought that the movement would have more weight if it were supported by representatives from the different public bodies in the colony. As they were aware, a sum of LIBO,OOO had been voted out of the four million loan towards this line. It was generally considered that the East Coast line, which was favored by the Government, would not pay working expenses, and would entail a heavy burden upon the country, and that considering the groat resources of the West Coast, and its large population, the money would be

more profitably expended and tend more to advance the interests of the districts concerned if it were devoted to a line to the West Const. It was said by some that none of the lines would pay. He would not enter into that question, but oven if the West Coast line should not pay they would not be unduly drawing upon the revenue of the country, considering that all the Canto bury railways returned a profit of over 3 per cent, on the capital expended, and the c untry could well afford to credit that 3 per cent, against the West Coast line. They would even then show a better return than the other parts of the colony. He thought it was generally understood that Canterbury did not want the loan, but as the Government had decided to borrow Canterbury should not object to receive the small sh ire that had been allocated to it. They should not only claim their share, but should also endeavor to secure that it should bo expended in the most profitable manner, and in a direction most conducive to the interests of the province. To facilitate business a preliminary c mmitieo had drawn up resolutions, which would bo submitted to the meeting.— The following resolutions wore carried : “(a) That this convention orm itse f in-

ti> an association, to be called the Railway League, (b) The association to con ist of a president, chai man, .secretary, and treasurer, and a committee of the gentlemen pro out, with power to add to their number.”—“That, i.i the opinion of this League, the construction of the trunk line

t the Past Coast to Blenheim would be a waste of public funds an l detrimental to the interests of this provin -e and colony at largo. ” —“That, iu view of the lar-ge resources on the West Coast, and the steadily increasing popula ion, this League is of opinion that the share of the loan allowed towards a trunk line northwards should be applied in the construction of a lino fr in ihe tfurunui to the West Coast, and that the Government be requested to cause surveys to be made as early as possible, with a view to ascertain the bestroute in that direction.”—The following officers were then elected : President, his Worship the Mayor ; chairman, Mr W. Chrystall; secretary and treasurer, Mr T. B. Craig.—lt was resolved—-

“ That fete gentleman" present representing outside Christchurch shall use endeavors to -form branch itojco-operate,in this movement shalfiba'to collect all reliable information an(|Sgen6igi].ly to direct its labors to c..v ying' wut'tlie spirit of the foregoing resolutions ” The following gentlemen were appointed a committee : Messrs K §, . Wright, Vincent, F. Jones, Pdrsohs, T. Bruce, T. Pavitt, A G. Howlafid, J, J.iyce, Johnston (Rangiora), Higgins, Meares, C. W. Turner, Johuston (flfaristchurch), T. S. Weston, R. D. Th'imas, Peryman, and Reese.— It was then resolved—“ That the n. cessary exp -uses incurred by this League shall be defrayed by voluntary subscription by members of this league and others.”—A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.