MIDDLE ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY LINE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3536, 7 November 1882, Page 3

MIDDLE ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY LINE.

(Br Tkleghafh.) Christchukch, Movember 7.

A meeting of representatives from various public bodies—comprising upwards of 60 gentlemen, who met by the invitation of his Worship the Mayorwas held in the City Council chamber at 3 p.m. yesterday. Several members of Parliament were also present.

The Mayor, who presided, thanked those present for their response to his invitation, and explained that the object was to consider the advisability of forming a league having for its object the advocacy of the construction of the West Coast railway line.

Mr W. D. Meares representing (with Mr Chrystall) the Chamber of Commerce, said he understood that it was not necessary that all those who attended were pledged in favor of the immediate construction of the proposed line. The majority of the members of the Chamber of Commerce were in favor of the construction of a West Coast in preference to an East Coast line, but personally he was opposed to the £5,000,000 loan. If the league was to make inquiries and investigation by committee, it had his hearty support. Mr A. G. Holland proposed, " That this convention form itself into an association to be called " The Railway League," the association to consist of a president, chairman, secretary and treasurer, and a committee of the gentlemen present, with power to add to their number."

The resolution was carried without opposition. The meeting then proceeded to discuss resolutions condemning the East Coast line. The first was, "That it is the opinion of this league that the construction of a trunk line via the East Coast to Blenheim would be a wa&te of public funds, and detrimental to the interests of this province and the colony at large." To this Mr E. G. Wright moved a series of amendments in the direction of delay for further information until the Railway Commission had reported. There was considerable disscussion, the result being that the amendment was withdrawn, and the following resolution carried :—" That in view of the large resources of the West Coast, and its steadily increasing population, this League is of opinion that the fhare of the loan allowed towards the trunk line northwards should be applied to the construction of a line from the Hurunui to the West Coast, and that the Government be requested to cause surveys to be made as early as possible with the view to ascertain the best route in that direction."

An influential committee was ap pointed to carry out the object of the League, and the meeting separated.