TAPANUI-WAIPAHI RAILWAY.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 172, 26 October 1877, Page 6

TAPANUI- WAIPAHI RAILWAY.

I A meeting* of settlers took place in the Herriot Hundred Schoolhouse on | Saturday, the 20. h inst. Mr Eddie j was in the chair, and called upon Captain M'Kenzie, who said that he had ' Called the meeting afc the request of a few of the settlers to take into consideration the best route for the proposed line of railway. There were three lines spoken of, and either would pass through his property. W the Tapanui people were in a position to construct, a line, by all means let them do so, but the grade en the Tapanui line was 1 m 30, and consequently would never be a good one. His view was to take a line up this way by Taylor's Creek or the Waikaka. He said that no doubt he would receive any amount of abuse, but that did him no harm, as it just went off his back the same as water off a duck's. After speaking at some length as to what he had done for tbe Clutha district in the Provincial Council during the nine years he re.pr.esen ted that district, he said that the railway should pass hy i.rdmore, for if ir, went to Tapanui they would never see it at Herriot Hundred. The ridges and creeks between this and Tapanui would prevent a? railway from being carried further. The Tapanui line was the only one that had as yet been before the public, but his opinion was that

a survey should be made before anything should be done. He proposed that a survey be made of the different routes. The mo'ion was seconded. Mr James Sim said that either line would suit him, but he did not, think it just-that the interests of Tapanui shoal 1 . be ignored. The Captain had mystified facts, for if the settlers on Taylor's Creek could find an outlet, to the main I'ne Ifit them do so, and on the other hand, if the Taylor's Crppk route was, taken, ifc would lie the means of almost compelling people to send tbeir produce to Invercargill. as it, did not tap the main central line half-way, as the line to Waipahi. As to the' ridges and creeks between Herriot and Tapanui. he bad never seen them, and thought that the Captain knew little of the country, as it. was a plain all the. way. Mr Bennet quite agreed with . the Captain as- to the advisability of getting a survey made, but would like to see the line taken from Waipahi via Kelso to the Herriot. Hundred. Mr Ferguson referred at some length to the Captain's statements, and said that the resolutions proposed, if carried, would place thpm in the same position as the Waitppeka line, and years would pass before they would have a line, if at all. He then read a telegram to tbe effect that there was every probability of us getting the railway, and likewise showing how the Captain had. in flowing languao-p. advocated the Tapanui line when on the Committee. Captain M'Kenzie danied this, and said he did not think he was capable of sj fine composition. Mr James Sim proposed as an amendment, " That, the line of railway start from Waipahi up the Pomahaka Valley via Kelso to the Herriot Hundred." There voted for the amendment 10, for the motion 17. The latter was declared carried. A vote of thanks to the Chairmanconcluded the proceedings.