GISBORNE-ROTORUA RAILWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 917, 16 June 1903, Page 3

GISBORNE-ROTORUA RAILWAY.

PUBLIC MELTING AT OPOTIEL

MR HENRIES’ ADVICE IS TO

11 BUCK UP

At Opotiki on Saturday evening a public meeting was convened by the County Chairman ro take into consideration the proposed Gisborne-Rotorua railway. There was a large representative assemblage. I Mr H. R. Ilogg occupied the chair, and on the platform also wore Messrs Herries, M.H.R., Hone Jlokc, M.H.R., and A. Peebles (Whakatane County Chairman). In opening the proceedings the Chairman referred to the isolated position of the Opotiki district, and considered the people should put their wants forcibly before the Government. He did not intend to go into the ethics of railways. He thought whilst money was being spent in railways, Opotiki should endeavor to get its share.

Mr Hcrrics congratulated Mr Hogg on the action he had taken. His advice was to 11 buck up ” if they wanted anything. He suggested the formation of a Kaiiway League, arid advised going in for a line from Thames to Napier, in which case six electorates would be interested, and the six representatives would have someweight. He referred to Canterbury where the members had said they would give support to the Government which would give them tho railway. The question was How to get the railway ? He would suggest the formation of a League, which would cuter into communication with the other centres, and impress upon the Government the necessity of doing justice to the Hast Coast. Mr Heines detailed his experience ut a meeting in Auckland at which he had beou howled down for advocating tho wants of the East Coast, but he considered this proposed line was second in importance only to the main trunk railway. Let the people with no uncertain voice back up their representatives, and say “ We must have the railway,” and he would do all he could to help them. (Applause.) Dr iteid moved that this meeting strongly urge the Government to authorise and survey tho whole of the Gisborne-Opotiki-llotorua railway lino. In moving this ho referred to the ablo manner in which Mr Herrios had placed tho matter before them. Ho agreed with Mr Horries that tho proposed lino was next in colonial importance to the Main Trunk railway, and considered tho advice given to them to “ Buck up ” was goad. Mr Peebles seconded tho motion. He reforred to tho concessions given by Mr Ward to farmers who had railway communication, amounting to -£BOO,OOO, thus imposing a severe handicap on farmers who had no railways. As far as Wbakatano was concerned they would help all thoy could ; one thing they would like to , have and that was a mail service throe times a week.

The motion was put and carried unanimously. Mr J. B. Gow moved that the Government be requested to place £IOO,OOO on tho Estimates with the view ot the early construction of the East Coast railway, and that tho line bo completed between Napior and ltotorua, via Gisborne and Opotiki. Ho referred to the benefits which would accrue from the construction of the line, and held with Hr Reid that it was the next important line to tho Main Trunk.

Mr C. Clayton seconded the motion. Ho mentioned tho sorry means of communication passed by Opotiki with tho outside world—not that ho wished to cavil at tho Northern S.S. Co., but ho thought it was hardly a sign of progress to have to travel in a boat the rnujor part of the passenger space of which was utilised by dead pigs. (Laughter and applause.) Tho motion was put and carried unanimously. Ma W. J. Addis moved that a Railway League be formed for tho purpose of furthering the claims of the Gisoorne-Rotorua railway, and that the members of the County Council and Town Board be appointed a preliminary Committee with power to add to tho number to deal with the matter.

Tho motion was seconded by Mr Westnoy, and carried unanimously. Mr Hone Helm briefiy addressed the meeting, approving strongly of the course adopted, lie believed in agitation, and endorsed the formation of the League, and counselled them to attack Ministers on every possible opportunity.

Tho report of tho police that all our Aueklaud hotels aro only fairly well conducted, appears to us really a reflection upon the police authorities themselves. Whether a hotel is patronised by well-to-do people or by a less wealthy class has nothing whatever to do with the question. It is absurd to allege that there is no difference in the attitude towards the regulations taken by the many hotelkeepers of the city, and it is a matter of common knowledge that some hotels are carefully conducted and that others are not. The police force are undoubtedly overworked, and we are inclined to think that it is hardly the proper body to entrust with the duty of hotel inspection. We have traffic inspectors, cruolty-to-animals inspectors, sanitary inspectors, truant officers, and so forth. It might be true acouomy, and much more effective, to relieve tho police force of this licensing work and employ Licensing Act inspectors instead. At least, wo should not then bo officially informed that “ fairly well ” is the best to which observance of law is carried by any hotelkeeper, and men who honestly try to conduct their houses properly would uot then be handicapped by tho equal official status enjoyed by those who may not. — New Zealand Herald.