Wairoa Railway League.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 162, 20 July 1901, Page 4

Wairoa Railway League.

(TIMES CORRESPONDENT.)

\ .meeting of the Railway League was held in the County Hall on Saturday, a good number of members being present. Mr J. 11. Brown was voted to the chair. The Treasurer (Mr W. Shaw) stated that the funds in hand amounted to A 3 lls Sd, and the Society owed about four shillings in ail. Dr. Somerville wrote resigning the position of secretary. Dr. Somerville proposed that Mr D. White, jun., be appointed secretary. — Carried, a vote of thanks being passed to the retiring secretary. Mr Whyte stated that as a representative of the League, ho had waited on Mr Carroll on the occasion of his last visit to Wairoa. Mr Carroll did not seem to be very enthusiastic on the railway scheme, but was of opinion that a petition should be presented to.the House. That was all Mr Carroll could say officially, but ho said the Minister of Railways had some new projects to put forwards, regarding the railways of tho colony, and a petition might assist tho claim for a railway in this part of tho colony. Mr Carroll also stated ho would use his host endeavours to get tho survey finished of tho proposed lino between Wairoa and Gisborne. Mr Shaw : Tho survey was stopped simply because the Minister thought the agitation was at an end hero.

Mr Whyte moved, and Mr Mackay seconded, that a petition bo drawn up for circulation at once and presented to tho House, praying for railway communication with Wairoa. Ml- Shaw said it was no use sending any more petitions to the House. They had sent thousands of names before.

Mr Whyte thought that was no reason why they should not try again and keep the matter before the House. Mr Shaw : It is too late now. This should have been done before the harbor works were started.

Mr Mackay. stated lie had seen a far worse case than this brought to a successful issue—namely, the Otago Central line. Mr Shaw : There was no Harbor Board there.

Mr J. H. Brown was of opinion that it was too late this year to think of sending a petition to the House, but perhaps later on something might crop up which would induce the people to sign a petition freely. However, they should ask to have the survey completed. It was only a matter of time when there must lie a railway. Anckland wished to secure the East Coast trade ; so did Wellington, and it was only a scramble to sec which would have it first. In a ease of this sort it was adv sble to have a league in existence, to take advantage of any favorable turn of affairs. It was well known that the darkost hour was before daylight dawned. Mr Shaw: Yes, but we have let tho daylight slip by.

Mr Whyte said lie knew the feeling of the Gisborne people was in favor of a railway, and even there numerous people people could be found to sign a petition ; ho also urged that the League should go ahead again, and let the district and Government see they were not dead, but very much alive to the needs and requirements of the East Coast in this matter.

It was decided that tho secretary write to tho Survey Department, asking that the survey of the Napier-Wairoa-Gisbornc railway, stopped at Tiniroto, be resumed, and the question of petitioning the House bo held over until next year. Dr Somerville : If it was only a petition of the Wairoa people it ought to carry some weight. It was resolved that a subscription of 2s 6d bo taken up each year, duo on the Ist of July.

Dr Mil no Thompson and Mr A. Mackay wore elected members, and tho meeting closed.