PUBLIC MEETING

Dunstan Times, Issue 549, 25 October 1872, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING

A public meeting, convened by J. U. Cambridge, Esq., Mayor, on requisition signed by about forty gentlemen, residents in the town and district, was held in the Public Library Hall, Clyde, on Monday evening last. The Mayor occupied the chair, and, in opening the meeting, said : The object of the requisitionists at whose desire he had convened the meeting was to elicit information respecting the Waipahu line of railway, upon which an elaborate report had been prepared by Mr. J. Millar, F.S. A.C.E.J; and also to memorialise the Government to construct the same. The Chairman read the advertisement convening the meeting, and called on William Fraser, Esq., of Earnscleugh Station. '• Mr. Fraser said (hat, to carry oat the railway scheme initiated by the honorable Julius Vogel, a large sum of money had to be borrowed, and it was only right that, as the residents of the CluthaJValley would have to pay their share of the loan, an equal portion should -be so expended that they would be directly benefited. In the schedule of lines to be constructed was one from Tokomairiro to Tuapeka, which was called the Tuapeka Line. It was endeavored to be shown that, by the construction of this line the whole valley of the Molyneux and the Northern Gold-fields would be greatly benefited, and it was industriously circulated that the Waipahi Line would benefit none but a few of the runhoUcrs. These statements were made by the supporters of the Tuapeka Line, an t no pains were spared by them in extolling the many benefits of that line, as sgainst the Waipahi Line. He (Mr. Fraser) was pleased that an opportunity had been afforded him to publicly express himself on the subject, and to give a fiat denial to the assertion that the Waipahi Linn was arunholders line. Hewould remark, however it had been said the idea of the Waipahi Line originated with a few landed proprietors, and that it would only benefit them and a few wool-growers; but he would scout the idea. The relative merits of the two lines, in so far as developing (he resources of the country, were not comparable. The Tuapeka Line would benefit Lawrence only. It would not open fresh country for the agricultural settler, bring tbe residents in the np-country districts any nearer the metropolis, or the extensive forests of lapanui; whereas the Waipahi Line would do all these One of the richest tracts of country in the Province of Ota io, where now but a few sheep and cattle are browsing, would be thrown opc-n for settlement, and the whole of the district would be put into daily communionti n with Dunedin. Reason and justice were both on the side of the Waipahi Line,, and he would recommend that no legitimate or constitutional means be neglected in urging on the Government its construction. Action should have been taken before, but if the matter was now energetically taken in band, they might not be too late in meeting the danger that was threatening them. He would suggest that the whole of the Municipal Councils co operate, and he felt assured, if they were unanimous and worked as one body, they would succeed. Mr. James Hazlett said tbe former speaker had well nigh exhausted the argument in favor of the Waipahi Lino, leaving him but little to say. He would, however, endorse everything that had been said. He- much regretted that an expression of opinion from the district had n it been given before Their silence, in a measure, gave a tacit consent to the correotnjss of the statements put forth in favor of the Tuapeka Lino. It had been said, and it was still urg“d, that by the construction of the Tuapeka Line, the whole of the up-country districts would benefit equally. Such was not the case Lawrence alone would reap the benefit, and that at the expense of the line of country through which the Waipahi route would course. Ho had no objection to raise against the Tuapeka Line, and would not pat himself out of the way to prevent its construction ; but he did not ace why the residents of Tuapeka should be so antagonistic to tbe Waipabi Line. It appeared to him that tbeir case was a bad one, or they would not take such trouble as they evidently were doing to make the powers that be believe the Waipahi Line was not wanted, and that the Tuapeka Line is the only one that will save the country from ruin, or something approaching it. He would support Mr. Fraser’s suggestion relative to the Municipal bodies taking action in furthering tbe views of the meeting, and he hoped they would leave no a tone unturned to gain their point. Mr. Patterson said he had lately passed through the Tcviot, thence to Lawrence, and on to Dunedin ; whilst travelling he had heard a great deal of discussion respecting the two lines, Tuapeka and Waipahi, and excepting at Lawrence the unanimous opinion was in favor of the Waipahi line. On all sides it was admitted that the Tuapeka lino could never be but a side line, from which, no other place but itself would be benefited, whilst by the construction of the Waipahi line the whole country would be benefittei. He dwelt at some length on the advantage* of the line, concluding hy urging one and all manfully to put their shoulders to flic wheel and assist in making an effort in having the Waipahi line constructed. The following resolutions were then adopted. Proposed by Mr. Fraser, seconded by Mr. Grindley : “ That the only line of railway which can be of an material benefit to the inhabitants of the interior of this Province is. tbs one from Clinton, via Tapanni to toe Teviol.” Carried. Proposed by Mr. Cox, seconded by Mr. Tyrrell“ That the matter be referred to the Corporation of Clyde to take such steps as they may think most conducive to having the line by Tapanni constructed. ” Carried. It was resolved, That the result of tbe meeting be telegraphed to T. L. Shepherd, Esq., the Merabei for the district, and that a cony of the fore niing resolu'ions be forwarded to him by the first Mail. A vote of i hanks tii the Chair termaated the jir ccedings. * (