PUBLIC MEETING.

Dunstan Times, Issue 792, 22 June 1877, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A well attended and enthusiastic meeting was held in the Town Hall, Clyde, on Tuesday evening last, the Ifith instant, to take into consideration the various routes of railway communication from the seaboard to the interior as affecting the interests of the Dunstan District. Benjamin Naylor, Esq., J. P., who occupie 1 the chair, briefly explained the object of the meeting, and referred to the agitation throughout the country on the question of railway communication, said he had convened the meeting thinking that the Dunstan District should not be quiescent, as railway communication into their midst was as much needed to their prosperity as to any other place. He then read a letter from W. L. Busch. Esq., Mayor, of Naseby, who said he heartily agreed with the object of the meeting, an I hoped the districts of Naseby and Dunstan would co-operate to attain the desired end. Mr W. Auckland said thoro could not ho the least doubt in the minds of any that the extension of a lino of railway into the interior was most desirable, and every effort should be made to get one constructed. Of the proposed lines, all would benefit this district, therefore it mattered little which oue was selected. He thought, however, the one by way of the Taieri was the best. lie would propose— That a line of Railway connecting Vincent County with the Sea-board is urgently required. Mr J. D. Ferand, in seconding the rose* lution said, it w'as a fact’ patent to every body that up to the present, under the old Provincial Government regime, the upcountry districts had been neglected in every possible direction ; the lands were locked up, and no means were provided to get what produce was raised to market, if more had been none for the up-country districts, more people would be settled, and a far different stale of things would exist than at present. The chief wants of the up-country districts was railway communication to the sea-board, and it was the duty of all to be united, and work hand in hand in urging upon the Government in give ns a line, and ho thought that if fir proper amount of pressure Was brought to bear, the turning of the first sod would to accomplished within tjvclve months. Tho initiation of this agitation was by Oamani and Naseby, who by their action have woke np the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce and the Taieri Council, therefore th-re is but little doubt a line will be extended into the inter'or, and so far as Clyde is coHcerned, it will make hut little difference which lino is made. He was pleased tho meeting had taken place, and ha hoped all tho other towns in tho County will take the .matter up. He had great pleasure in seconding proposition which was carried. Mr IVelsford There is a great deal of I talk as to the various routes suggested."

■every place according ns it is interested, favoring cither Waipahoo, 'Lawrence, Tmei i or Oamaru. The Taieri Luo 'was the most suitable, as it would open Up the greatest area of good agricultural lahd, which must bo the main stay of the country. The Taieri lino, tlao, will bring us in dieect comniuui■catloh with Dunedin, in which direction all ■our interests lie. He Would propose ’That in the opinion of this meeting a Lino of Railway Communicating with Dunedin by way of Mannherikia Valley, Ida Valley, Mariiototo Plain anil fltrath Tnieri would be the most advantageous to Vincent County, and beat calculated to promote the interests of ’the Country generally ; but this meeting declines to pledge itself to the Strath Taieri portion of the proposed line, if Railway communication can be more speedily dull easily secured by Way of Palrherstbh'or Oamaru. VmcCnt Fyke'said, he had great pleasure in seconding the proposition, and wouldask 'leave to, While speaking, to speak to the whole'question. He remembered, he said, a passage from the valedictory address of Mr'Gavdn Duffy to'the 'electors of New Ross before he was a recipient of Royal v J l rto .vors, “England’s difficulty is Ireland’s \ j |V ipportunity.” 'Cavan Duffy, of course, used the phrase in a 'hostile sense, but he, the speaker, would use it or vary it in a ‘friendly sCnse, thus—Dunedin’s difficulty is Dunatdti’s opportunity. The Oamaru people in 'agitating for a line of railway to ' connect them with' the interior had raised a question which should be our opportunity. Dunedin Ifeds taken fright, and it is for Us to take advantage of that fright, and let Dunedin and its Chamber of Commerce knbw that unless it assists' Us, that We can materially iiljuro them. It is for the people to to take up this Vjuca+ion Wimly like'Oatoii-u and Nasehy, and awake from the sleep they have long fallen into, now is the time tomove, for if ymi' do not, a line of railway will Sever reach Clyde. Dunedin does not seem to he aWaro ‘of our existence, but wo must tell them if they wiirn'of assist us to Obtain a railway from Dunedin, we will assist tfurselves dnd take the line elsewhere. It 'is a curious fact that in all the discussions at Dunedih, Oamaru, Taieri County or Nasehy, this part •of the country is never referred to, even the report of the Dunedin Cbahiber of Commerce on Railway extension omits ea 7 en to mention us. (Mr Pyke here read an extract from the report of the Chamber of Commerce and continued) —Was there anything so inane and unsatisfactory'? Wo must wake' up and make ourselves 'heard, and make the) people of Dunedin fend Wellington understand that it is their ’interest to take us into consideration. Mr Pyke then referred to the various projected ’lines—he said, by the very best authorities, ho was informed there were little or no'engineering difficulties in the' Way of constructing a line ‘ from Ontram to the head of Strath Taieri, while from there to our very doors thefo Were none at all, it being comparatively level. ’By that route magnificent tracts' Of ’agricultural lands would he opened, and moreover, direct communication would he had with Dunedin, with whom the greater portion our business was done. The Tii'a--peka route it wits 'useless to think of, as the people of Lawrence were determined not to let the railway line pass beyond their township, there was nothing 'to induce them to do so ; and further, there would’he hut little advantage to us by it. The Waipahee line was too circuitous, and the (Ally argument in’its favor'was that it would connect us with the timber district of Tapanui; but by the Strath Taieri ’line timber would reach us,'not only of a better ' quality, but cheaper. As to the Palmerston lino, he could not see that we walited 'it at all. While, as for the Oamaru line, that would'neither benefit ns or Nasehy, as ‘from the Slarewhcnua Pass the gradients would be too steep, and it would not touch the plains till it reached Creek. The Strath Taieri line was the only one to bene'fit the County, and he hoped, within the next twelve months, to turn the first sod within this County of two sections —from Clyde to Cromwell, and to Blacks. The tnlisf important point had not yet been referred to, and that was the mode of construction : he would 'oppose any line unless it was commenced simultaneously Sl at both ends. To allow any line, whatever one was agreed upon, to start A 1 from one ‘ehd it would not in our lives, if ever roach us. The Public Works ■scheme, so far, instead of benefiting tlie’up 'country had injured it, as all the hone and sinew has been taken away to construct the works on the seaboard, and the interior has 'been drained 'Of its best men. By com- ' Silencing the line at both ends wc should not only keep'the population we already have, ■ hut would have an influx. The cry has been raised'that we' cannot afford to build anymore lines,the'country is too heavily in debt ; it is a fallacy and a mistake, England when she was 90 millions in debt was supposed to he ruined, hut now when her debt is more than 800 millions, sheds more prosperous than ever. The scheme ho would suggest 'for raising the Inoneydvas that each Coilnty should he endowed with land to the value (if the line within its boundary. 'Such a scheme would effect ■many good 'purposes, (ho niaiu One being that the lands Could he so disposed as would benefit the owners and country alike. His idea was not for the railway to end at Clyde, blit to 'pass 'through to ‘the West Const over the Haast Pass, where there was some of the-finest lahd in all God’s earth. Ho hoped in ten'years to see the east and west coasts connected with a railway. The motion was ihch put, and carried. Mr Rees rose, and said ; Mr Pyke having spoken so fully anti Well on the Whole question, but little waS loft for him to say ; he, however, did not Concur with all that Was said ; he perfectly coincided with the idea to keep Dunedin on the qui vivo, also that the Tuapcka and Palmerston lines wore not what the district wanted. He would not like to support either the Strath Taieri or Oamaru linos until the reports of the engineers were obtained. The .Strath Taieri Bne would doubtless open up a lot of mag-

iiilioeutjand, hut would think it tho policy (It tho distiiet not to support either line, so as to keep tho support of Dunedin and Oamaru both hi view. Ho would propose— That noschenn will Be acceptable to the residents of this County which does not provide for immediate railway ;ox'tension thereto, and also for the edmtaenoettient of the works simultaneously at both ends. Mr J. tT. Cambridge seconded. —Carried. Mr Samson, Mayor of Alexandra . Wo afo all ot'oUe mind in agreeing that a'railway'is necessary to the well being of tho district. The next point to'hb considered was ways and means, tho motion he had in his hands treated on that. The scheme or suggestion was that the Counties should he endowed with land equal in value to the cost of (he line. Tho plan though not original is 'one that should meet with the views of all parties, it would relieve the colony of the necessity of borrowing. He was decidedly in favor of the Strath Taieri line, as from his knowledge of tho country it was the best and easiest constructed. He thought if the district can :gat Dtincdin to agree with and assist them it might be looked upon as good as constructed. Ho begged to propose That within their respective boundaries the Counties should he charged with the construction of the Railway, subject to tho supervision of tho Public Works Department, and that for this purpose they should he endowed with grants of public land equal in value to the coat of construction. Seconded by Mr FaChe and carried. Mr A. A. Oliver proposed— That copies of the foregoing resolutibis he forwarded to the Minister of Public Works, the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, the Vincent, Maniototo, and Taieri County Councils, the Nasehy ‘Railway League, and tho several Municipalities within the said Counties. Seconded by Mr Eeraud, and carried. Mr Pyke then appropriately proposed a vote of 'thanks to 'the- Chair (B. Naylor, Esq., J.P.,) which was seconded and carried by acclamation.