THE RAILWAY WORKSHOPS.

Evening Star, Issue 3290, 5 September 1873, Page 2

THE RAILWAY WORKSHOPS.

At the conclusion of yesterday’s meeting re harbor improvement, The Mayor said he thought that as there were a good many citizens present, it might be as well, now that the original business of the meeting was disposed of, to take up Captain Stewart’s motion respecting the workshops at Mussel Bay. He thought it was very evident that their representatives at Wellington were doing very little for them in this matter—(applause)—and it was time they began to do something for themselves. Captain Stewart then moved his resolution, which he previously read, remarking that it was so self-evident that it would be insulting their common sense to recommend it to the meeting. Sir Burt seconded the resolution, and in doing so said that he had to regret that the members for Dunedin in the General Assembly had not made themselves more active in the interests of Dunedin. The telegram received by the Mayor from Wellington on the previous day, stated distinctly that the course taken had been recommended by the Engineer’s report. He failed to see that that statement was true, because he had learned from very good sources that the Engineer’s report was in favor of a site on the other side of the Anderson’s Bay road. He would be inclined to move that a public petition should be got up and sent to Wellington.

Mr James Smith suggested that the motion as originally proposed by Captain Stewart might be slightly modified before being adopted by the meeting. He would suggest that, in referring to the proposed site of the workshops at Mussel Bay, the words “ entirely unsuitable” should be substituted for “positively ridiculous.”

Mr Burt quite agreed with the merer of the resolution, that the proposal to erect the workshops at Mussel Bay was ‘‘positively ridiculous.” At Mussel Bay they would have to reclaim the land in nine feet of water, while they might obtain a site at Dunedin by reclaiming 18 inches deep. He might say that he telegraphed himself to Mr Bathgate, asking what was to be done regarding the workshops, and he replied that he would send the telegram to the Minister of Public Works for an answer. Before Mr Bathgate went to Wellington it waa rumored in Dunedin that the workshops would be built at Mussel Bay. He made it his business to call upon Mr Bathgate to ascertain if such were really the case, and he (Mr Bathgate) stated that he had never heard of such a thing, and that it would be a monstrous scheme _to have the workshops at Mussel Bay. Referring to their conversation, he again telegraphed to Mr Bathgate, saying, “ Remember our conversation, when you promised to prevent the unjust scheme of erecting workshops at Mussel Bay. Dunedin strongly against it.” The answer he received was, “ See telegram sent to Mayor.”—(Loud laughter.) Mr John Cargill said he believed the resolution under consideration represented the opinions of ninety-nine out of every hundred citizens of Dunediu. There could be no doubt that Captain Stewart had struck the right nail on the head. They all knew very well the real reason for this proposal. Port Chalmers was a very strong power in the Assembly, and had great weight with the Government. (A Voice : The representative of Port Chalmers.) That was really how the matter stood. H did not know that if the gentleman who so well represented Port Chalmers was the representative of Dunedin, it would make much difference. He did not think it would. He believed that the representative of Port Chalmers would always have a warm feeling for the Port. There was a great necessity for looking after the interests of Dunedin just at present. It was really tOti bad that a large city like Dunedin should suffer itself to be punished iu such a way. No other community would ha\ e permitted for a moment such a thing as patting the railway workshops down at Port Chalmers. As Mr Burt bad pointed out, they could reclaim land here in a depth of water only amounting to ISin; whereas they had to reclaim it at Mussel Bay in a depth of Oft. He thought the resolution proposed fyy Captain Stewart properly characterised such a proceeding—-it was absolutely ridiculous. They had a very great power opposed to them —the power of the Superintendent—and the citizens of Dunedin should at once strike out for themselves.

Mr Gillies said that the remarks of Mr Cargill naturally suggested the question as to whom they were to send the telegram to. It would evidently be useless to send it to their representatives.—(Hear, hear.) He would propose that they should send it to the Premier himself. —(Hear, hear.) Mr Ramsay said that he did not knqw fljat it woqld be tfye wisest plan to send the telegram to the Premier, It took the Premier exactly one week to merely acknowledge receipt of the telegrams containing the result of the recent public meeting. Mr Reeves said that nevertheless it might be well to jog the Premier’s memory and show him that they were alive to their interests. Evidently it would be a waste of time and money to telegraph to their members. He had not the slightest hesitation in saying that their two City members who were in the Colonial Government were mere puppets. - (Hear, hear.) He regretted having to say so, because he had supported both of them. He regretted to have to say that, from what he had seen of their actions in the Government, they merely danced when somebody pulled the string. Captain Stewart’s motion was then put to the meeting in the following modified form, and carried unanimously:—“ That this meeting considers that Dunedin, from its natural advantages, will not only be the seat of commerce and manufactures for but a,lsq the port for tho largest ships entering the Otago Heads. That this meeting views with regret the intention of the Government in persisting, after the expression of the last public meeting to establish the {railway workshops at Mussel Bay, and is confident that the position is entirely unsuitable, and that if erected there, the workshops would require to be removed in a few years.” Mr Reeves then moved, and Mr G. F. Reid seconded the following resolution : —“ That his Worship the Mayor be requested to telegraph to the Hon. the Premier a protest on behalf of the citizens of Dunedin against the railway workshops being erected at Mussel Buy, and also a copy of the resolution just passed.” A conversation ensued as to whom it was advisable to send the telegrams.

Mr J ajies Smith said it appeared to him that it would be of very little use to send a copy of the resolutions to the Premier. It was very likely that he would say, though probably in politer language, what had been said before—- “ Protest and be d d.”—(Laughter.) Perhaps the best course would be to telegraph the resolutions to all the Otago members, who would probably meet together, and deviie some course of action likely to have effect with the Government.

The words “and the Otago members of Assembly” were inserted after the word “Premier,” and Sir Reeves’s resolution was then unanimously agreed to. A vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding terminated the proceedings.