RAILWAYS TO TAPANUI.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 183, 11 January 1878, Page 5

RAILWAYS TO TAPANUI.

On Wednesday forenoon a deputation consisting of Captain Mackenzie, and Messrs James Logan, and A. D. Johnston, waited upon the Hon. the Minister of Public Works (Mr Larnach), and presented a petition signed by 122 residents in the Waikaka and Chatton districts as follows : — That your petitioners consider that a line of railway, branching from the Waikaka Station of the trunk line, section Gore to Waipahi, following the Waikaka Valley, passing thence through the North Glenkenich and Greenvale districts to the township of Kelso ; thence to the Railway Reserve, near Spylaw, and thence to the Teviot, is the most suitable for opening up the large agricultural districts which lie between the Mataura and Clutha rivers, and which are for months every year left without access ' to the Trunk Railway. "That this line would pass from Waikaka to Spylaw, through densely settled districts, would be easy of formation, and would command a large traffic as soon as opened. " That it would pass through a large area of auriferious country near the township of Waikaka, whose progress is seriously retarded by the high rate of carriage for all mining requirements. " That were this line adopted, a short branch to Tapanui might render the line from Waipahi to Tapanui unnecessary. " You petitioners, therefore, respectfully request that you will take the foregoing into yojufavourable consideration, and cause this line ~2> be surveyed and reported upon before taking any further steps towards carrying out the line from Waipahi to Tapanui." Mr Johnston pointed out the necessity for the railway, and said the line ,to Waipahi would not benefit the petitioners. Captain Mackenzie also spoke at some length ori the subject and read the following petition, which he said he was instructed to present to Mr Bastings, Chairman of the Tuapeka County Council, and which was signed by 79 persons: — "We, the undersigned settlers in this district, pray that you niight be pleased to request the General Government to send an experienced engineer to report on the best route for the contemplated railway into this (Tapanui) district ; the object in view being to save great trouble to settlers, and others, as we firmly believe that if the railway be not extended to Swift Creek Hundreds and Spylaw Station, hundreds will be ruined, as there is no other outlet for their produce. " The Hon. the Minister for Works promised to try and arrange for a flying survey of the line, but, if they wished it made quickly, they should get it done under the District Railways Act, for, if the Government recommended it next session as one of the works which should be undertaken, there would still be a risk that the House would not sanction the line. The Hon. Mr Macandrew did not think there was any prospect of the Legislature sanctioning the construction of the proposed line at present and he thought it should be constructed under the District Railways Act. He was of opinion that the line already sanctioned should be pushed forward as fast as possible. If the Tapanui line was extended to Kelso this might to a great extent meet the requirements of the petitioners. Mr Johnston pointed out that it would not do so. The Hon. Mr Larnach said all that he could promise was that the Government would endeavour to arrange for a flying survey of the line. If they wished to get* the line quickly, they should set to work and do it under the District Railways Act. The Government could not recommend it to Parliament unless they were prepared to deal in the same manner with all parts of the Colony, in which railways were urgently required. He believed ... that a line would be started under provisions of the District Railways Act from Gore to the Elbow, and he advised the petitioners to adopt a similar course. The Government had not the ways and means to undertake the construction of these lines, and unless they were prepared . to go into the money market on a general scheme nothing could at present be done. He however would be prepared to bring the matter of the proposed line before next session of Assembly. The deputation then withdrew. Subsequently another deputation consisting of Messrs Bastings, Brem'ner ; and Mackie, waited upon the Mimister of Public Works, as a deputation from Tapanui to urge that the railway from Tapanui to Waipahi be'- proceeded with without unnecessary delay. Having heard the .remarks of the deputation, Mr Larnach in reply said,. I can only say that the : Government are ' considering this matter; very seriouslyj with/ the view of expediting the work. A plan is now under consideration by which it ia I hoped the railway will be; working withiii X I a year or eighteen months at the outside. ; The land j has b^eriJres^^ the first and^ most important thing to do; ri There -will be no : difficulty 'in ? ' ways 7 and\: ; meansr being provided Tto ucarryi# outfcthetTy work, and -negotmtions .^%^6w,^oingybn ; * to 4;get; : everything :r^p^ed|:for;the> con^*; structioh bfc;^ jsu^nsedtq .near^^ 7Tapam^ >wiU|d'67eyer^^ M^A?mkrX^xmm^^^^^^m^o 'A§^y^¥^^^^^^^^&