THE RAILWAY

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 344, 19 February 1902, Page 3

THE RAILWAY

COUNCIL URGES GOVERNMENT TO OPEN THE LINE.

At the Borough Council last night, Cr Whinray suggested that sieps should txi "taken in the direction of getting a supply of light gravel for the side streets by the railway. The Mayor said the suggestion was a very good one. He had brought the matter under the notice of Mr Carroll

—hut an unsatisfactory reply had been received to the effect that the Department required a good deal of gravel for ballasting purposes, and was not aware of the quantity available. He thought that the Council should pass a resolution urging that the portion of the railway constructed should be opened as soon as possible. Notwithstanding the opinions expressed at the public meeting by some speakers, bethought the sooner they got the line opened the better ; it would he a step towards getting the work pushed on, hut if the people of the district were content to allow it to remain idle die Government would not he inclined to push on the work. Cr Jones agreed with Cr Whinray. As lo the reply referred to by the Mayor, the Department had not then property commenced ballasting, and did not know what would be required. He understood that the officer in

charge was now making enquiries as to wine prospect there was of the completed portion of the line paying if it were opened up for traffic. In the event of doing so passenger traffic would he included, hut it was to the goods traffic rather than passengers, that tie Department would have to look for making the section pay. It would he a strong incentive if the local bodies gave an undertaking that they would obtain gravel by the line. There seemed to he some misconception in regard U. ballast. For that the fine gravel was required, while for the roads t hey required the coarser stuff. There were acres and acres of the gravel but to obtain that most suited to the locai bodies- a better engine was require*!, the present one not being fit for the haulage up the incline. Not only would the gravel he useful for the side streets, but he also believed that it could also he largely used for the main road for patching purposes. If Cr Whinray would move in the direction indicated he (Cr Jones) would second the motion. The Mayor said that at present the line had not been taken over by the Railway Department, and until that was done the matter of the commercial value of the line at present would not be considered. He would move that the Railway’ Department he requested to open the railway for traffic at the earliest date. In reply to a question by Cr Mason, Cr Jones said that in the event of the line being opened the distance would extend to Kaiteratahi. The Mayor’s motion was unanimously agreed to. Cr Whinray said that he would like to malic some remarks concerning what had been done at the public meeting. The Mayor said that hardly came within the province of the Council. Cr Whinray : I think a public body should take action in the matter. The Mayor : As a Council I do not think we should take action. At a public meeting people can give expression to whatever their opinions are. Cr Whinray : It was very ill-advis-ed. It simply makes a peg to hang their hat on, and the railway, too.