Otago Control Railway LEAGUE.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 421, 12 May 1904, Page 5

Otago Control Railway LEAGUE.

A weUaattahded meeting of the local branch ef the Otago Central Railway League waa bald in the Alexandra Library on Thursday evening last, when the chairman (Mr Jas The cM&mfti captained that the principal butinesa of the meeting was to urge upon the Government the necessity of opening the line to Ophir before the. road from Ophir to Ida Valley becomes snbw-bound; and failing this, that the Una be opened for goods traffic at least as far as Lauder. -

Several speakers referred to the great inconvenience caused to businesspeople and others in the district during last winter, owing to the bad state of the Ophir-Ida Valley road, and the opinion was expressed that if goods were allowed to come as far as Lauder, the concesssion would be much appreciated. Frnsilf, it was moved by Hr Young, seconded by Hr Barthelemew, and carried :~-Thit in view of the Otago Central Railway formation being well forward towards Op air, on tn e QphirIda Valley eectico, the Minister for Railways be respectfully urged to have the line opened for traffic over that section before the depth of winter if possible; and, further, that it bo pointed out to bim that, aa the liae » practically completed to Leader, that portion at any rate may be opened for general goode traffic at once, so that the rough road to Ophir from Ida Valley may bo avoided. It was further moved by Mr Buchanan, seconded by Hr Gloss, and carried :-~lhat a copy of the forego* ing leeolation be cent to the Premier, the Minister of Railwaye, Minister of Public Works, Heevra Bonnet, Iraaer, MiUer, and Arnold, MJT.B.'s, and the Otago Central Railway League, Dunce die, asking them to use their iniuenee to have the request of the meeting carried into effect. v Hr Grimstooe said the time was opportune to ask the Miaictcr of Railways to consider the question of accelerating the speed of the trains on the lino, and, after come discussion, the following resolution, proposed by Hr Grimstone, and seconded by Hr Buchanan, was carried:—That in view of the early opeajng of the Otago Central line to Ophir, the Minister of Railways be respectfully requested to consider the necessity of adjusting the time-table so ae to reduce the time occupied on the journey to and from the terminus. An enthusiastic meeting closed with a veto of thanks to the chairman.