PREMIER AND RAILWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 347, 22 February 1902, Page 3

PREMIER AND RAILWAY.

MINISTERS INVITED TO

GISBORNE,

Yesterday a corumittco meeting of the Borough Council was hold to consider what steps should bo taken as to tho Premier testimonial, and also as to what steps should be taken in the direction of petting the railway lino opened. There wero present: His Worship the Mayor, and Crs. Mason, Bright, Jones, Whinray, Miller, Kennedy, and Harding. Tho Mayor proposed : “ That the Promior, Minister of Kail ways, Minister of Public Works, and Native Minister be invited to Gisborne to open for trallic the Gisborne-TCaraka raihvay, and that the citizens entertain tho Ministers on that occasion.” All were desirous that the railway should be turned to some profitable account. As Ministers were going about tho country and being lavisnly entertained, for Gisborne to stand out would bo a great mistake. Tho railway should bo put in working order at onco. Now was their opportunity, for if they left it until after the Premier went Home the work would probably be hung up for a longtime. All they wanted was a good engine, with several carriages, and a few men to run them.

Cr Bright seconded the motion. Cr Whinray spoke in support ot the motion. They had now had. the Government report on tho Motu timber, and if tho railway were delayed that timber would be lost. That fact could be impressed upon Ministers. Or Harding also supported the resolution, which he was sure would bo heartily supported by everybody in the district. Cr .Tones said tho step was in tho right direction ; it showed tho people were alivo to the matter. Ho suggested tho words “at the earliest possiblo moment be added to the motion. Thoy could remind the Premier that he had promised to come .to tho opening of tho lino. If the railway was once running it would do more than anything elso vo convinco people of tho necessity for further extension. Cr Harding said ho was certain that if the Premier could conveniently como to Gisborne ho would do so, as ho had a special liking for tho place. The Mayor lookod upon it as a foregone conclusion that Mr Seddon would come. The motion was carried unanimously. Tho following letter from the Clerk of the Cook County Council was read : —“ I have the honor, by direction of this Council, to respectively request that a deputation from your Council should meet this Council at 4 p.m. on Friday, 28th inst., to consider the advisability of presenting a joint memorial to tho Government to permit tho use of the railway lino to Ivaitcratahi for the purpose of conveying the gravel required by tho soveral local bodies to convenient depots along tho lino. I beg to suggest that your representative should be instructed as to tho quantity of gravol your Board would take, and the maximum prico you would bo prepared to pay for it. It is also necessary that your rcp3esentativo should havo power to agree to what might bo considered advantageous terms without having to refer to a further mooting of the Council.” Tho Mayor stated that tho letter would bo considered at another committee meeting.