GISBORNE – MOTU RAILWAY

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 927, 27 June 1903, Page 3

GISBORNE - MOTU RAILWAY

MEETING OF RAILWAY LEAGUE GOVERNMENT TO BE URGED TO EXTEND LINE. There was a large and representative attendance of East Coast sottlcis at the mooting of the East Coast Railway League, Af.eld in the County Council Chambers !j 'esterdav afternoon, and tile keenest

e* terest was manifested in tiic proceedings. 4' -• Charles Gray presided, and amongst present were tho following: Tho Mayor (Mr Townleyi, Captain Tucker, Messrs Bright (secretary), Hurdiug, W. D. Uysnar, W, L. Rees, W. Webb, F. Morgan, G. Humphreys, W. B. Common, D. Morice, Birr nil, Hookey, Cooper, E. L. DcLautour, White, J. McLean, Clayton, W. Pettio, Matthowson, Siovwrigbt, and Dickson. Captain Tucker, Chairman cf the County Council, stated that the object of the meeting was to revive the League with the object of pushing on tho railway to the Motu. Thoy should use persuasion, coercion, or even threatening—do any tiling at all to have tho railway pushed on. The County Council had considered the matter, and decided it was belter to sink any personal views as to wide or narrow gauges, and to unite in the one effort to bavo tho railway on its present gaugo

carried to tho Motu. (Applause.) Tho Chairman was of opinion that unless thoy took somo steps urging the powers list be to increase tho speed iu making u railway, thoy would bo left in tho lurch. Ho road tho resolution passed by tho Council. Tho settlors in tho Opotiki district wore, ho said, anxious to do something in tho way of a railway there. The County Council thought if they confined thoir exortions to getting an extension to tho Motu, they would ho serving tho district better than by asking for linos in any Other locality. Mr C. A. DcLautour said no ono could tail to agree that they were doing what was right in setting up a Railway League. Thoir business was pructi-ally to re-create tho League. It would be better to avail tbomsolves of the old records and reports, but to start with a clean slate, enrolling members and appointing a chairman, anu starting with a fresh programme. They shouid aim at some definite stage that thoy should ask for Government to autho riso. He did not seo why they should be dotorred from want of survey for asking for authorisation of extension to tho Motu this session. Othor things the League n'iglit take up was the value of local tramways to provide feeders for this liuo under tho Act of 1891, which Aet was hardly understood as it ought to he. Hi-

proposed that tho League be established forthwith, and that thoy proceed with the enrolment of members. (Applause.)

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. After some discussion it was (fielded t, revive the old L-agin-, appointing the oh

officials, witii power to add to then number.

Mr Bright asked to bo relieved from tho office of secretary, us ho could not afford the lime.

Go tho motion of Mr Roes, seconded by Captum Tucker, Mr J. Tounley was unanimously elected President of tin League. Toe appointment of secretary was loft to Hie conimitti e. The Co'int.y Council's resolution was t ieii eons.dei ed. EX TEN d lON OF LINE. sir W Ij. IU . s n ... : ‘ i a in tin opm.ol. Ol the met .11 g ;i- p-. » • min ut Hie people oi tile in-tricl, Me mid el extension of railway coiumimicution t. the Motu is obviou-, and should be found upon the Government at the earliest, pus-

Bible moment, in order that tile work may be pushed on with all speed and the neces-

sary legislation obtained this year.” They hud tlie promise of the Minister of Public Works that tho Government did not intend to stop at Kuraka or Motu, but that it should go on step by step. Tho public were agreed that the railway should go on. and there was no difference on that score. Tho small instalment was already paying, aud it would increase as it was extended.

They should petition Parliament, showing thu need for its extension, and pointing ou.Miio little recognition the district had had in tho past. They had certainly got a iittle more lately, but not a sufficient amount, considering the amount they had paid into the Troaßiiry. He would not say they should use throats, but they ahould use every effort to put their re-

quirements before tho House and colony. Mr Siovwright had much pleasure in seconding the motion. As a commercial step, it was necessary in the interests of the district that tho railway should be extended. He heartily endorsed Mr Rees’ remarks.

Ale W. D. Lysnar said they were asking only lor their rights. Over ten years ago a. statenient that was prepared showed that some had been spent on railways, g£ which they had received nothing. The district was the largest in the whole of the eolony in which there was so much land undeveloped. There was no part of the colony whore the Gowernment could put a railway where it ■would pay so well. This was evidenced by the success of the paltry section of 13 miles open to-day. What would it not do whon it reached the timber, of which there Wore such large quantities in the back country ? As showing the use of the train, he had been enabled to travel 45 miles and back again, losing only one day in town. The men who wore being knocked off now should bo put on on tho formation from the Karaka. Mr A. i'. Matthews hoped, now the Bailway League wus revived, that it would bo pushed ahead with vigor, and that a deputation would be sent to Wellington, an ,J un Act passed that their railway would be continued. With due respect to tho ago of the gentlomon who composed the League, he nevertheless thought they should put themselves into the position of the barrackers on the football field, and barrack all tnoy knew for their sole, and push to the utmost extreme until they gained victory. Mr iises’s motion was amended as 10l lows : “ That in the opinion of this meet* ing as representing the people of the LutCoast, the Gisborne Kuraka railway should be extended so the Motu without delay and that petitions to the Government and to Parliament should bo prepared and signed by both races, praying that the necessary legislation should be at once enacted.” . 'Mr J. Townley, in thanking tho meeting fer bis appointment ail President, said the ttsolution wus lieartiiy supported by him. That they should urge tilt- prosecution ol ihe line was necessary, as in the .cornuin session other districts would be putting iforwurd their claims, and they might be deft out in the cold. They should not neglect pressing their claims on the Government. The dairying industry Was being taken up in tho Motu, and would be 'a large one, and they should see that means of communication were provided for it. Tho people here should assist the Motu settlers in every possible way. -the member for the district would give every assistance to get the line pushed on. An assistant engineer was to bo sent here to holp Mr Armstrong with the survey. He took it that tho hue would be continued but not at such a fast rate as it would i. they vigorously urged its prosecution. Mr Bright supported tho motion Mr DeLautour said that tho word Extension ” was their watchword. He doomed it a happy omen that that day was tho anniversary of tint opening of the railway: They should endeavor to get an Act passed to extend the railway. Ho be- ■ Loved they could depend more oil Auckland than in the past. In the Hon. Mr (Mitchelson, the present Mayor of Auckland. they had one who would give them ihe greatest assistance, and one who had •valuable experience in this direction. He thought the League should make every .effort to forward tho resolution. The Chairman said that to “P on country by railways was far cheaper than roads. In other districts the Government had opened and maintained great lengths of road Mere, if they made a few miles of road, they handed it over to the County Council Povijfty Bay had progressed ■very considerably, but not so fast as it would do if the back .country was opened ■'£"£» po. to li,.a.eliog,»n d was carried unanimously. TRAMWAYS ACT. Hr Sievwright said Mr DeLautour £rew out an excellent suggestion, as to

taking some action under tho Tramways Acs. If they showed themselves willing to help tbemsolvos, they would be mom likely to get help. Ho would suggest that the matter be commended to the considera tion of the League.

Mr Townloy moved that the Committee bo asked to prepare a report on the ques tion and lay it before a future mooting. The motion was seconded by Mr Matthews, and carried. SURVEY FROM KARAKA.

Mr Lysnar moved that tho Government bo requested to have the survey beyond Kuraka gone on with immediately. Mr Birred ecconded the motion, which was curried. NEW MEMBERS. Mr Common proposed, that before disbanding the people present enrol themselves as members and pay their halfcrowns. The suggestion was adopted, und the following members were appointed : Messrs C. Gray, W. J?. Common, W. Sievwright, J. Tuwnley, W. L. Rees, A. L. DcLautour, C. A. DcLautour. J. Whinray, F. J. Morgan, G. Matthewson, L. Clayton,

./. T. Dickson, W. Gauciin, A. !''■ alas thews. A. L. Muir, AV. Wehb, it. M. Bir roll, A. r i'. ilookoy, J. C. McLean, W. D Lysnar. D. Morice, J. W. Bright, W Pettie, J. Harding, W. Cooper.

RESOLUTION FROM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A PROFITABLE UNDEKTAKIM

The question of the extension of the railway to Motu was discussed at. Hie meeting of the Chamber oi Commerce last evening, the matter being introduced by the President, Mr .J. IV. Whinray, who made a foreib'e speech. lie declared it tile most important question the Chamber could discuss, and he would he pleased to hear an expression of opinion with a view of co-operating with tlio Railway League. The meeting held in the afternoon was the most representative one ever held in Gisborne ; there was an excellent (one, and a very unanimous feeling in regard to the subject. It was a

most important undertaking, and would have a very important hearing on the freight charges to Gisborne. With a railway to the Motu they wodld be able to give steamers coming to Gisborne a return cargo.

he Mayor deemed the chief bus!

ness of tiie evening was the question of tiic extension of the railway to Motu, so he had prepared the following resolution : “The Gisborne Cham tier oi Commerce congratulates tiie Govesnment on the very success-

ful year’s operations on the Gisborne railway, and trust the Government will continue the construction of tiffs railway with the best possible despatch to tap the great timber districts near Motu.’’ Speaking to the motion, tlio Mayor said that .that, was the anniversary of Lie opening of tiie railway, tiie greatest day they had ever held in Gisborne. On that day the public school children had been carried free on the railway and enjoyed tiie outing immensely. For many it was their first railway trip. It was a glorious day, and a very great turn-out. With tiic view of seeing how the year’s operations had turned out he had obtained some ngures to snow tiie returns that the few miles of line Had already given, and these were of a most, satisfactory nature. Tlie number of passengers carried dui*in& the year was 35,<sul, and the reeeipts tfcllUl lbs lid. The quantity of goods carried was 2252 tons, and tiie receipts £I73G 9s (id. 'The total receipts had been £2838 15s 7d. The expenditure amounted to £2212 Us

bd, leaving a balance of £626 15s 2d over working expenses. Tiffs was a very fortunate position for Gisborne to be in, and was very encouraging for Government to continue the fine to Motu. If so much could be done

in tne few miles already constructed what a profitable line would it not be when it readied Te Kanaka and Motu. Such returns was an emphatic denial to those who said that the

line would not pay for the axlegrease. (Applause.) The railway, when it tapped a more extended area of country, would undoubtedly increase its credit balance, because the district, especially further inland, would he a great and prosperous district. Railways quickly increased settlement, and there would be great, trailic on the line. He had great pleasure in presenting the resolution which required all the energy and power they could bring to bear upon

Air W. Puttie .seconded the resolution. lie thought that the return . read was exceedingly interesting and encouraging, and should cause them to persevere in their efforts to ex. tend the line to the Alotu. if no other business were dealt with that evening, the urgency of the railway was well worth the Chamber being called together. A great deal had been said about the neglect of the Chamber during the past, year, hut lie felt sure that the sleep of twelve months would have a beneficial efiect. He noticed that the Railway League had slept ror four years, but that afternoon it had awakened and started with renewed strength and vigor. (Applause.) He hoped the Chamber of Commerce would follow suit, and assist the League In carrying out this extension. It was their bounden duty to assist in furthering this object. At the present juncture the extension of the railway was the main thing that they should devote their efforts to. He thought the Chamber should express entire sympathy with the resolution carried at tne meeting that day. lie was pleased to have been present and see such a large number of business men and couniry gentlemen interested in the meeting. it only required united action on their part to secure the extension of the railway to the Alout. (Applause.) Mr Matthews was pleased to hear Air Pctlie say that the Railway League and Chamber of Commerce had "profited by their long sleep, lie hoped that the energy and vigor they had stored up during that time of repose, would enable them now to send etlieu waves of sympathy to Wellington, and that the Government would he only too glad to do what thev asked them. The President was thoroughly in accord with the remarks of tne proposer and seconder of the motion. He was glad to note such unanimous feeling. qhe motion was adopted unanimously. At a later stage of the Chamber s meeting, Mr W. 1L Common spoxe oi the necessity of co-operating with the Railway League in sending a deputation to Wellington to urge upon the Government, the claims or the district ror the extension of the line to the Molu. He thought that it

lould he an instruction to the te

presentatives that they should endeavor to enlist the sympathies 01 those members of Parliament who had recently visited Gisborne and at the banquet had expressed a desire when in Parliament to do all in their power to forward the interests of Gisborne. Pressure should bo brought to bear on these members, and they should be kept up to their promises. They were aware of the claims of the district in regard ‘to railway construction, and would recognise their validity. Mr Pet tie endorsed the remarks of

Air Common. It would be a veiy uoml idea for the Chamber to appoint one of its members to go U Wellington, in order to strengtliei the hands of the deputation. H was decided that the matte should be dealt with at the ncx meeting.

COUNTY COUNCIL RESOLUTION. At a. special meeting .of the Cook County Council yesterday ifie question of the G-isborne-Karalm railway was discussed, and on the motion o.i Ur Harding the following resolution was carried unanimously : “ That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable to concentrate our energies in obtaining the completion oi the line to the Motu,”