Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1901. THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 28 October 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1901. THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY.

We fully anticipated that the people of Westland would be dissatisfied with the exceedingly modest vote of £2,000 for the commencement of the railway from Hokitika to Ross. From what had gone before it was believed that an energetic prosecution of the work was intended ; but, as we pointed out the other day, the money voted cannot do much more than defray the preliminary survey, and although it brings the fifteen miles separating Hokitika from Ross within the sphere of contemplated extension, it does no more. It does not even commit the Government to further work on the line. At Ross the vote has naturally enough caused much disappointment, and at a public meeting on Friday expression was given to such opinion, the following resolution being carried unanimously :

“That this meeting views with alarm the fact that the amount proposed to be allocated this year upon the Public Works Estimate for the extension of the Grey-Hokitika-Ross railway is only £2,000, and we are of opinion that this amount is totally inadequate to even make a commencement with the work, and this meeting respectfully, but strenuously, urges upon the Government to place a sum of not less than £IO,OOO on the Supplementary Estimates, so that a work of so much importance to the district and the colony of New Zealand may be at once vigorously proceeded with.”

In supporting the motion the Mayor, Mr Joseph Grimmond, said the necessity for the extension had been persistently before Government, and when the Premier was last on the Coast he had promised that a vote should be put on the Estimates for the purpose. And a vote had been put on—£2,ooo. Now, they thought that at the least sufficient money would bo forthcoming to make a practical commencement of the work possible. He felt sure that £2,000 would not be sufficient for a detailed survey and plan of the work. They must insist on getting sufficient voted to enable a proper start to be made with the railway. The speaker dwelt on the advantages that would accrue to the district by the extension of the railway, and very truly remarked that whereas the Government was spending vast sums of money in purchasing lands, or settlement they had in South Westland a vast and magnificent estate, containing timber and minerals in abundance and unsurpassed agricultural and pastoral land, that only needed the railway to make it the most valuable asset possessed by the Crown. Hokitika has also taken the matter in hand, and at a Borough Council meeting the following resolution carried;—

“That while this Council views with satisfaction the announcement contained in the Public Works statement that it is the intention of the Government to extend the Grey-Hokitika Railway to Ross wo would respectfully urge that an additional sum should bo placed on the Supplementary Estimates so as to enable the com mencomcnt of the work, especially the bridge over the Hokitika River which is an absolute necessity, to be undertaken as soon as the survey and plans are completed. The resolution was carried unanimously.”

Groymouth which, as the port of the locality, is as much interested as either Ross or Hokitika, should not be behind hand. There is truth in Mr, Grimmond’s assertion that much valuable timber, agricultural and pastoral land would be opened out by the line. The present demand for timber is not equal to the supply, while the Government is forced for want of land for settlement to purchase at a high figure estates that have long since been alienated, while here are crown lands only awaiting for a railway to open them up to enable settlement to take place —and intending settlers are numerous and eager to settle on the land and become, what this part of the colony is much in need of, toilers of the soil. The country is, moreover, a splendid one for dairying and butter factories. Although we say it is desirable to urge Government to make a larger vote, there is, we fear, but little chance of success, the Premier in his reply stating that “lam not yet certain as to how the proposals in reference to

the construction of the line will be received by the House. The surveying and preparing of plans can be done between now and the 31st of March, The £2,000 proposed will bo sufficient to meet all that is required for the present.” Hero we presume the matter will rest. Mr. Seddon’s reply in other words stating “ I have put but £2,000 on the Estimates to see if Parliament approves of the extension.”