EAST COAST RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1480, 14 June 1905, Page 3

EAST COAST RAILWAY LEAGUE.

THE EXTENSION BEYOND TE KARAKA.

Thera was a fully representative attend* anocf at tho meeting of the East .Coast Bail way .League, hold yesterday afternoon for the purpose of conferring with Mr Carroll in regard to tho extension of tho line from To Baraka, and other matters of importance. Tho President, Mr J. Townloy, occupied the chair, and opened tho proceedings by moving tho following resolution : “ Tho East Coast Bailway League urges tho continuation of tho railway from Te Karaka to junction with tho Motu back road, about 10 miles, so that tho timber industry can bo started, and that provision should be made during tho ensuing for tho completion of at least five miles.” Mr Townloy pointed out that railway leagues throughout tho colony wore at the presont time active in urging thoir requirements, and it was necessary for Gisborne to do the same. It was necessary thatjiho line should bo pushed forward with all possible speed. The district had recently boen visited by the Hons. Hall-Jones and i McGowan, and ho was sure both gentlemen would realise the importance of tho immediate construction of the lino. If the railway wore carried another few miles, settlers would haye some idea where to convey the cut timber to meet the line. There were a few engineering difficulties to bo got over. Ho thought at leas' .£25,000 should be spent on the work be

yond Karaka during tho present year.

I He observed that the , Government wore going to be very active during the coming session, and there would not be opportunities for getting a considerable vote. Mr DeiLnutaur said that .£25,000 would not cf fioarse includo an excess of tho out-

Jay. The President: No, this will be a freßh start. lam sure Mr Carroll will understand that. Mr W. L. Bees, in ssoonding the motion, | predicted that the Gieborno-Motu line I would prove one of the best paying in the colony. Bast month the receipts amounted to £4SO and the expenditure 42290. The returns would be doubled os soon as the timber at the mills beyond Karaka could i be brought down. At the present time the Government regulations showed that 8d | per 100 ft was charged for the carriage of tfmber in other parts of the colony, yet in Gisborne Is 2d was charged. This should be remedied, and the drawback to this in--1 dustry removed. Ha had written to the Minister on the subject and received an answer that the matter was being looked into, but so far nothing had been done. They should insist on tho same scale of rates being charged in Gisborne as elsewhere. Mr Bees referred to the projected line to 'Waiapu County from Karaka as another means of increasing the revenue of the railway. He hoped Mr Carroll would go down armed with facts and figures that would enable him to refute all arguments. Mr DeLautour referred to the inadequacy of the rolling stock. It was no use having the goods if they could not be carried on the line.' Mr Carroll expressed pleasure at seeing the keenness and activity displayed by the Bail way League, from which he had received much assistance. He would do his utmost to fulfil the demands made that day. He considered that the amount asked for reasonable and well within what the district was generally entitled to. sfhey would understand that the Government’s ability to carry out' works in accordance with the wishes of the people were often influenced and affected by the amount of money they had to devote to that special subject. He did not think for one moment that tho League were asking'for anything out of the way in asking for a vote of £25,000. He understood that there were engineering difficulties to be got over, which at first were not anticipated. Instead of a tunnel there was the alternative of' crossing the river twice and’going up the Waihuka Valley. He understood that th 9 reduction in freights referred to by Mr Beeo as necessary had been held by Sir J. G. Ward as a reduction that must be done, and he thought it had been 'attended to. In any ease he would attend to it when he went back to Wellington. .Regarding rolling stock, ho had been twitted on all sides with its inadequacy, its age, and lack of up-to-date equipments, and he would bring the matter before the Minister Jot Railways and point out that he was not treating the district properly. The present was a remarkable year for tho size of the public fund, and this• district should see that they got a larger cut iu at it after their long period of modesty in this direction. Now that tho line had been removed from the region of doubt, and was paying, the district were well justified in asking for a larger share than the dole they had been getting. He hoped that the League would continue their efforts, and so aid him when he approached his colleagues on their behalf. (Applause). .Mr Lysnar urged that tho freights on all classes of goods carried on the Gis-borne-Karaka railway should be placed on the same scale as in other parts of the colony. Mr Carroll promised to give the mattor hie attention

Mr Lysnar asked Mr Carroll to urge upon the Government the necessity of doing something in the way of a side line for the Whatatutu settlers, who wore justly entitled to as much consideration as those iiviug in the Motu. Over 300,000 acres converged on Whatatutu, and it would not be expensive to run a line there. He suggested that the Government should give the rails to tho Timber Company conditional on their laying the line to Whatatutu and making it available for the carriage of goods. He believed the Milling Company would agree to this, and it would get over the demands of that important district, otherwise stronger representations must be made. Over 4000 bales of wool came down from Whatatutu each I year, and there was no place in the district where there waa so much country under the axe, and it would be so for many years to come.

Mr Rees stated that the Milling Company intended to build their tram line the same gauge as the Government line. He heartily supported Mr Lysnar’s proposal. Mr Carroll thought the proposal had much to recommend it, as the line would serve 03 an experiment in view of other proposed lines in the district. Ho would do ail in his power to obtain the rails in order to assist the undertaking.

Discussion took place in regard to the proposal of the County Council for a light lino to tho East Cape, and the secretary was instructed to write to the County Council stating that the League would bo pleesed to meet them and discuss the matter.

The President spoke in favor of a rail way to Wairoa, which matter was being considered at present by their neighbours. Such a-lino would open up a lot of rich conntry and greatly promote tbe trade of Gisborne. Mr DeLautour urged upon Mr Carroll the necessity of the Government introducing legislation with a. view of giving focal bodies increased powers in tbe matter of railway construction, aDd assisting them financially by way of subsidies, and allowing them'to rate native lands. Mr Carroll expressed approval of the proposal and promised to bring the matter before his colleagues. In connection with the discussion on tramways the President submitted the following statement of the cost of the Putararu-Taupo tram railway, 52 miles in length, including a substantial wooden bridge over tho Waikato rivor, as good as the wooden bridgo of the Government: — Tho contract price, including laying the woodon rails, rails supplied to contractor at cost, £32,000; steel rails, 301 b, laying, etc., £6OO per mile, £31,200 ; total, £63,200. A few miles, perhaps 10, were one previously formed Government line, which had been removed. Grade not above 1 in 60 from Taupo, whence timber will be brought; lin 30 the other way. The contractor is said to have made nothing on the £32,000. Mr Townley pointed out that in the case referred to there were forests all along the line, which reduced the cost of sleepers. Mr Carroll said that be had met the contractor, Mr McLean, in Wellington, and asked him for particulars as to the cost. Ho thought the Government should get a man liko Mr McLean to report on tho cost of tho construction of such lines in localities they were required, as ho was sate thety would serve their purpose.

Tho President agroed with Mr Carroll that suoh information would bo vory valuable. A hoarty voto of thanks was acoordod to Mr Carroll for his attendance at tho mooting.