MEETING AT FRENCH FARM.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 201, 21 June 1878, Page 2

MEETING AT FRENCH FARM.

' A meeting , of those interested in the . formation ef the proposed line of railway to Akaroa by the Okute Valley, took place in the schooi-house, French Farm, on the s evening of tho 17th instant. On tho motion of Mr C. W. Bridge, ' seconded by Mr W. Wood, Mr T. S. I Baker was voted to the chair. ' _ The Chairman explained that the object ' in calling tho meeting- was, that it had . been deemed advisable by some, that a survey should be made of. Joblin's valley, and he would now aok someono interested in i'aa matter to address the meeting. "Mi C. W. Bridge said he liad been asked by several persons his opinion with regard to the route of the proposed railway. Doubtless all were interested in bringing the railway into the harbor, and would be gltid ■when it was done, or Government had taken etc-pes toward its accomplishment. It was considered that !sui!ici",iit tinio had no , ; been given to tho f hurve.y of Jiiblin'. , } valley, by which route, jit was urged, the railway should be taken i through to F.ir'n, Acting as Mr TownseiidV. agent, lie !iad a stake in tha , ; part of iho district, and if what was urged "vitii rogaivl to the Okute valley was correct, he considered that a meeting of the. I' inhabitants or ¥r(;n:.!h Far::; and otliorti i inteiOHted, would do good. These -A-ere hi.3 roasorits i'or cortnected j with t!ic matter. He thought that pubii- / city to the opinions concerning the ad- | visablcness of the line being tafam through

the valley in question should be given. Hβ would ask someone better up in the matter to go further into details. • ■ Mr G. Black thought the Trust had not considered this valley at all. Ho himself had only a small stake in the question. As far as he was aware, Mr Hardy Johnston had. not seen into this valley. Everyone was certain that this route , u:ould be found to be much the shorter, and, if it came to tunnelling-, that there would be far less of that work to perform. Of course what they wanted was to adopt the least expensive line, and he had heard that .there would be two miles of tunnelling through into Barry's Bay.

The Chairman suggested that it would be better to' prdpose some resolution. Mr W. Wood handed in a letter from Mr H. Buchanan, which was read, to the effect that he regretted being unable to attend the meeting, as his sympathies were with its object, but, judging from the Engineer's repprt to the Trust, he thought that they would fail in obtaining their wish.

Mr E. C. Latter said, perhaps if he ex plained what he knew of the matter in handj it might perhaps throw some light on the subject. He had noticed Mr Black's remark that the route mentioned had not been thought of by the Trust. They had" held some twenty meetings, most of which had been reported. This subject had been mooted from time to time, and it had been agreed that the alternative lines should be surveyed as quickly as possible, in fact it formed part of the Engineer's contract. Owing to hindrances, the Trust had to wait till the 22nd of May before they were able to really commence work. It was now only twelve months since their first meeting, then a delay took place in the election of a representative. At the meeting held in June last, an Engineer was appointed on the strength of the excellence of his testimonials, and from has transpired, it was evident that it w#s not safe to trust such testimonials. It was not till December that they got into full work. The Engineer was instructed to report on the drainage of the lakes, and to survey the alternative lines of railway. If Mr Black had seen the report of the last meeting of the Trust, he would have noticed that the Engineer, in reply to the question why he preferred the route by Barry's Bay, had said that, irrespective of traffic considerations, the distance was too short from the top of the hill to French Farm Bay, the gradient too steep, and that it would necessitate the line being 1 ' taken down in zig-zag. That was the reason alleged to the Trust, who were unwilling now to insist on a detailed survey, owing to want of time, the survey of the line through to Barry's Bay being not yet finished, and as Parliament met so soon, it was now too late. But of course this opinion was not to be taken as final. The object was to get the sanction of the Government to make the line to Little River. If it was asked that the line be carried to Akaroa without intermediate traffic, they would not succeed. Having got the line to Little River, the question of taking the line round by Okute valley might then be gone , into. The Engineer had said, however, that this would necessitate taking the line the other side of the lake, at thq back of the Maori pah, which, in his opinion, would not be the shortest route. This fact, together with the great amount of traffic to be got from Little River, were reasons why the ;, line up Little River valley had been chosen. If the intention of the meeting to propose a survey of this line -being made had been notified some months back, it would have had the sympathy of the Trust. If, however, any delay was to occur now, he was afraid'it would be fatal to the whole scheme. The greatest chance of the Bill passing this Session was at its commencement. If it were not passed this Session, the money now at the credit of the Trust for the line would go into the public funds. This amount was £28,000. There would then be no chance of their getting the line at all. He had cotno there this evening .to make this explanation, as he feared any opposition was likely toprove fatal to the whole scheme. He felt sure they would get the line a3 far as Little River, and then if the Okute valley route was found to be best, he saw no reason why it should not be so laid oft*.

Mr G. Black understood that if the Bill passed now, the line would have to be carried out the other route. He would be sorry tp oppose the scheme in any way, as ho considered it would do good to the colony at large.

Mr Latter said that, looking at the traffic to be obtained from Little Eiver, ■tho line should be got there.

Mr Black thought the object was to get the Southern grain trade, so that this harbor could compete with Lyttelton.

Mr Latter said they uould'not start with that at first.

Mr Black asked, in case the Okute Valley route was found to be the best, would not another Bill have tb be passed.

Mr Latter was not prepared to give an opinion on the matter. He thought Mr Johnston had been up that valley, and given his opinion in accordance with his. observations. For himself he considered he was in a peculiar position as a resident of Barry's Bay, but they must consider the large amount of population at the Head of the Bay and Barry's Bay, who were entitled to benefit from the Railway,, which, however, was not likely to stop in Barry's Bay but must be extended either way. Mr Black said it meant money if the line was extended from Barry's Bay, whereas it would' come direct to French Farm by tho other route. . Mr-Latter replied that they must look to a workable gradient. Mr Black contended this was a reason for having the survey carried out. •_ Mr Laxtjsu said there was nothing by that route to shew sufficient traffic such as to authorise the line being made. Mr S. Hunt understood the line was wanted to 'be carried to deep water so as that the harbor could be used. He thought it but fair that tho route should be surveyed as weH-tis the other.

Mr C. IiATKS understood that both lines were to be surveyed by the Engineer, and reported on by him, and • that then a Government Engineer would choose the best line. There was no water in Barry's! Bay, and lie did not see the use of bringing the line to a place where it was useless for shipping purposes.

Mr Bak.uk thought it would bo better to have ;sow:thing- derirute to go vtpou.. They wero. all anxious to get the line to the harbor, but they must not in selfishness do anything to obstruct the progress of the scheme. He had heard Mr Latter's explanation. If it was immaterial which side of the lake the line was taken this

meeting waa no good, but he thought it did make a difference, for of course if it were taken on the Little River side,, it would be a greafcuirgurnent for carrying it on to Barry's Bay.- The cost of tunnelling, the distance, and the point within the harbor reached should all be taken into consideration. If the gradient was as good, it would be an immense saving to take the lino to French Farm as there was deep water close at hand. Mr Latter had said that they must have something to feed the line, well, why noc run a tramway up Little River valley? Still he did not want to do anything to hinder what the Trust had so far succeeded in doing or prevent the line being brought as far as Little River. . It was better to let it come through anywhere than to prove obstructive, for if the Bill was not passed this Session it would not be passed at all.

Mr Bates understood the object of the line to.be the bringing of grain and produce from the south <so as to utilise the harbor, and relieve the pressure on Lyttelton.

Mr Baker thought a private survey should be made, at the expense of those interested, .and sent" to the Trust for their consideration...

Mr Bates objected to the inhabitants paying for the survey. • .;..■■ Mr W. Wood wanted Mr Latter to give a decided answer as to whether if the Bill passed for the line to be taken by Barry's Bay it could Tae altered afterwards. Mr Latter was willing to give any information in his power, but at the best, any suqli answer would be merely a private opinion. The Bill was not drafted yet. The report that had appeared in print was merely the Engineer's report of the adoption, ef that route, and his reasons for so doing. The line was not obliged to stop at Barry's Bay. If tbeother route was found to be so much belter, he did not see why it should not be adopted afterwards. He himself would support it if it were the better route. He was unable to give any legal opinion in answer to Mr Wood. He was quite certain the line from Little River to Akaroa would not be commenced for some years, but he wanted to get it as far as Little Rivef. I£ they asked that it be made direct to Akaroa, that is within the harbor, they could not get it.

Mr H»NT asked if Mr Latter thought the line would go to Akaroa Town. ■

Mr Latter thought it would come to some point within the harbor. Mr Baker asked if the line going up the Little River valley would not prevent it being brought round by Okute valley and French Farm.

Mr Latter said that any objection of that kind might prove fatal to the passing of the Bill. The Engineer approved of the other route. As for the distance of tunnelling at Barry's .Bay, he might say that Mr Browne estimated it at 120 chains.

Mr Bbidge said as the time was now too short to do more than put in an estimate of one route, it would be a bad thing to throw any obstacle in the way of the Bill passing by presenting any memorial or petition; still, a little discussion on the matter was a good thing. ;He thought they could do nothing farther this evening except thank Mr Latter and the other members of-the Trust. Let them,do their best to get the-line to Little Eiver, and give every assistance in their power. .■ '■Mr • Dicken endorsed. Mr Bridge's remarks. He. had a good deal of interest at stake,' but it would be a "mistake, however good the object, to do anything that would have a tendency to retard the progress of Bill. He believed there was every probability of the Bill passing this Session, and of the line being got through to Little River, but if Government were petitioned for another survey, it would only be an excuse to delay the matter. He thought their advocating this route, which he considered the better, would be made at the risk of arresting progress. But if, afterwards, this line was found to be the better he thought it would.not be difficult-to obtain the necessary power to alter. Everything now was' in good train, and he looked upon the Bill's passing as a'certainty, but it would riot be so if a contra-petition for a survey of the Okute Valley was presented. Mr Black considered it would be bad policy to do anything to stop the Bill passing. They would then neither get it to Littlo River or anywhere else. On the motion of Mr Bridge, seconded by Mr T. Brooks, it was resolved—"That this meeting endorses the action of the Trust in currying out the objects of tho Lakes Reclamation and Akaroa Railway Bill, and has no desire to trammel their endeavours to promote the passing of the Bill, but at the same time it hopes that the possibility of the route being taken by the Okute valley will not be overlooked."

Mr Baker then proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Latter and the Trust.

Mr Hunt seconded the proposition, which was carried.

Mr Latter briefly responded, and the meeting terminated , with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.