EAST COAST RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 949, 23 July 1903, Page 3

EAST COAST RAILWAY LEAGUE.

TRAMWAY FROM TE KARAKA TO MOTU ADVOCATED. A TWELVE MONTHS’ UNDERTAKING. A meeting of the East Coast Railway League was held yoslerday afternoon in the County Council Chambers. His Worship the Mayor, presided, and atnoDgst those present were : Messrs C. A. DeLautour, W. D. Lysnar, W. L. Rees, R. M. Birrell, A. F. Matthews, G. Matthewson, F. Harris, T. J. Dickson, J. Peckover, and D. Morico. . Mr W. L. Roes said that after considering the subject before the last meeting he did not think they had any reasonable hope of the railway boing extended to the Motu as advised by the meeting to the Government for some considerable time. He did not consider there was the remotest chance of it, as railways were being clamored for all over the colony, and the Government were shutting down on public works expenditure. The construction of another thirty miles of railway to the Motu was to hope what they would not obtain. The likeliest way to get anything done at all was to approach tho County Council, and .see if they would not consent to construct a tramway from Te Karaka to the Motu. The Council could make arrangements with a syndicate to do this, and the work could be completed before the lino was opened to the Te Karaka. I The Council bad power under the act of 1894 to construct such a line or make arrangements to construct it. Ho moved the following resolution : “ That tho Council be approached with a view of laying before that body the advisability of obtaining sufficient power itself to place it in a position to carry on the construction of tho line from Te Karaka to the Motu.” The Mayor thought that it would take the County Council a considerable time before it could construct it. He considered that the best course to adopt was to do all in their power to urge the Government to carry on the line to the Motu. The line should not bo allowed to stop at Te Karaka. Authority for the survey to Poututu had been obtained, and the Government would not stop a work for which they had to that extent pledged themselves. To carry such a proposition as that proposed by Mr Rees would show a great want of confidence on the part of the League in the Government. He contended that the Gisborne-Motu railway was a main line, and it should be carried in entirely by the Government. Mr Gaudin seconded the motion pro ’orma, but opposed it for the reason' that t was throwing cold water on the efforts if the Bay of Plenty and Auckland Railway Leagues, both of which wero most enthusiastic in regard to the prosecution of tho line. The deputation to Wellington should do their utmost to get the Premier and his oolleagues to travel from Gisborne to Opotiki, and they would then see for themselves the timber resources of the Motu and the great possibilities of the line. It was too much to ask the County Counoil to undertake a work of such magnitude as that proposed. The district should see that the line did not stop at Te Karaka.

Capt. Tucker heartily supported the motion for the construction of the tramway, as he looked upon it as the only way of saving the great quantity of timber in the Motu. They could only judge of the future by the past, and at the present rate of progress the railway would be a long time getting to the Motu. ’He did not expeot to see the line to Te Karaka before the end of next'year. The object of the League was to reach the Motu, and this could be done at once by means of a tramway from Te Karaka. They could not a definite promise from the Government to put the- line through to the Motu within a certain time, and all the time the destruction of the timber was going on. The timber at the Motu was one of the sources of revenue that they wore looking to to pay for the line going there, and without doubt it was a great source of revenue indeed. 11 If we want connection with the Motu, we must look to ourselves and not to others,” concluded the speaker, Mr DeLautour did not view the motion in the same way that the Chairman did. If the motion went so far a 3 to say that the League should abandon all efforts to oarry the line beyond Te Karaka it would not have his support. All that was sought was to find a speedy means of assisting the Motu settlers and enabling them to get their produoe out. He thought that Capt. Tucker was unduly pessimistic in regard to the railway. When the line wa3 started it was looked upon outside Gisborne as a toy, but it was now generally realised that it was going to be a main line, and the rate of progress in the future would be muoh faster. The line had already justified itself, and its future was assured. They should approach the Government and ask for authority for the .Te Karaka-Poututu section-of the line, and they would get this because the Minister waß already pledged to its survey. Ho thought that the County Council could be shown ways and means for the carrying on of a tramway that would enable them to tap the valuable timber in the interior. The construction, of. tram-

lines throughout the district would solve the main difficulty in regard' to' the want of metal. Every effort should be;made to assist the settlers in the Motu.. They must be reached , within a ’reasonable period, and the Government -line would not do it. If Mr Rees moulded his motion on these lines he would have, pleasure in supporting it. , Mr Lysnar thought the phase of the question now presented was an important one, and they should not come to a decision hastily, or in an off-hand manner. Time should be taken to allow members to think the matter over. He had previously advocated that a private syndicate should be formed to construct the line, and had his suggestion been carried out the line would have been at the Motu in less time

than it has taken to get to its present stage. Ho did not think they should accept the position as hopeless at the present junoture, but they might put Mr Bees’ proposition as an alternative. Unless the Government satisfied the League that they were going to make better progress with the line in the future the County Council should be asked to construct a tramway. They should, however, first exhaust all means of the Government extending the work. Mr A. F. Matthews recognised that everyone wished to see the line carried to the Motu, and all thoir efforts should be exerted in that direction. If the Government would not assist them, then, they might help themselves in the manner proposed, , _ • Mr Matthewsop said it was no use them running their heads against a briok wall, and they were .well aware that Governmont had put down its foot against private lines. The Government was not going to grant powers to construct railways to any syndicate. The pace of railway extension depended on the power of the Government to borrow, and the English market was stingy just now. He doubted very much whether the Government would delegate their powers to any local body. Every effort should be made to urge the Government to carry the line to the Motu, and they could rely on the Auckland members to assist them in their

endeavors. Mr Harris said that from what had fallon from the speakers that afternoon it was evident that the Government were not going in for a borrowing policy, neither had they much money to spend in public works. All parts of the colony were asking for railways. They were all satisfied that a railway to the Motu would pay, and if the public bodies guaranteed the interest on the cost of the line it would greatly strengthen the hands of their representative. (Hoar, hear.) They would be the only district in New Zealand that would give such a guarantee, and their railway would receive preference. Mr Bees explained that his motion had been misunderstood by the Chairman and others. What he meant was that every effort should be made to get the. Government to pusti'forward the line, but in addition to going to the Government they should ask' the looal body to obtain the necessary powers to borrow for the construction pf a tramway. A great deal depended upon the line being at onoe carried oh, as the timber of the Mbtu'was every day being destroyed. -Light railways would prove more effective for the purpose on hand, To get to- the Motu was the principle thing #t the present time, but

other tramways could be constructed. Continuing, Mr Bees stated that a tramline could be carried from Te Karaka to the Motu before the present Government line was opened to Te Karaka. The grades to the Motu wore not bad, and the line could be constructed in from twelve to eighteen months. The tramway could at any rate be completed by the day that the line was opened to Te Karaka. The Council had ample powder under the Act to borrow for this purpose, and instead of costing £7OOO or £BOOO per mile it would not cost more than £ISOO to £2OOO per mile. The total cost would not bo more than £50,000. The Mayor : Your resolution was to continue the construction of the Karaka railway. Mr Bees : I will modify that. I am willing to have it amended. Mr DeLautour : If Mr White is right you could take your line right along the road.

Discussion followed as to when the line would reach Te Karaka, Captain Tucker and Mr Bees putting it down at twelve months, whilst other members expected to soe it there as soon as the bridge was finished early in the new year. The Mayor expected to see the line opened bofore June. After further discussion the following resolution was adopted, Mr Harris dissenting : “ That the County Council be approached with a view to obtaining all necessary powers to construct a tramway to tho Motu for the purpose of opening up that district and utilising the vast quantities of timber therein in a reasonable time.”

In answer to the Chairman, Captain Tucker said that he could call a meeting of the County Council for next Friday week, when the question could be fully disoussed. Mr DeLautour suggested that a meeting of the Bailway Leaguo could be held after the Council meeting. It was agreed that the Leaguo should meet at noon on Friday, 31st, and that the Council should meet the same morning. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting.