GISBORNE MOTU-AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1847, 30 August 1906, Page 2

GISBORNE MOTU-AUCK-LAND RAILWAY.

DELEGATES TO WELLINGTON.

A meeting of the East Coast Railway League was neld yesterday aftarnoon, tbe Picsidont, Me J. Townley, presiding. In opening the dent referred to tbe suoceas of the recent conference at Auckland. It was a large and enthusiasts gathering, and the utmost unanimity had prevailed in regard to the East Coast railway. The Auckland community were now fully alive to the importance of the Gisborne railway connection, and great things could he lotted for in the fnturr. The Gisborne delegates had done a'l in their power to forward the speedy construction of tin line. The President then proposed that the following petition be adopted:—"To tbe Honorable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives of New Z-a'and, in Parliament assembled The humble petit on of Ihe undersigned sheweth : (1) That your petitioners are residents of ths East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. (2) That the wont cf railway communication on the East Coaßt seriously retards the trade and commsica of that very important and extensive area of the North Island,. (3) That while the several harbors and shipping pieces cn ihe East Coaßt have, in the pa-t, served good purpose in establishing settlement at various centres, the development of agricultural and pastoral industry has fsr outgrown the facilities of. communication by sea. (4) That your petitioners gratefully acknowledge the fact that your honorable House has, by authorising the Gisborne Karaka-Motu-Auok-land railway, recognised the claims of the East Coast so far as to commence at Gis« borne the line of railway now the eubjecl of this petitioo. (5) That the construction of the line will open up great areas of first-olass laud. The Gisborne-Motn part of the line will provide vast quantities of timber to feed the line, which is certain to be payable on completion. (6) Your petitioners realise the necessity of borrowing money for the purpose of carrying cut the Baid works. (7) That your petitioners pray that the North Island East Coast railway be authorised as a whole by your honorable House, and that the exploration aud location cf the several sections thereof be undertaken with the least possible delay, Bnd that the sum of at least £150,000 be voted during the present year for the more rapid prosecution of tbe line from the Gisborne end. (8) Your peiitioners therefore humbly pray that your honorable Houbb will take tbe premises into its consideration, and take such measures as may seem meet to give efi-c: to the prayer of your petitioners (9) And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.’’

Continuing, the* President said that the petition Set out very c'early (he desires of the G.’sborno League. Esch district in the provincial district would be forwarding its own petition and be represented by its own delega-fs. and Gisborne should not be behind. The great enthusiasm now prevailing in regard to the lice showed that the Gisborne people did the right thing in starting the line, and he felt sure that the united support wbioh they were now promised would be the means of bringing pressure to bear on the Government, and cause the Hub to be more speedily oon* strccted, Mr J. Peckover seconded the adoption of the petition, which was unanimonsly agreed to. Mr Gaudin proposed that the president (Mr J. Townley), the county chairman (Oaptaio Tuekai), and Messrs J. A. Hardiog and Eliott (Motn) should be four of the delegates to proceed to Wellington. Messrs Bright and Whinray were also proposed, and the six gentlemen mentioned ware selected.

The secretary was instructed to ask the Auckland League to give a week’s notice of the date fixed for the delegates to pro* oeed to Wellington. The secretary referred to the question of finance, and suggested that the usual subscription should be raised to ss, aa there were several liabilities which re** quired to be liquidated. After some discussion it was decided, on the motion of the president, seconded by Mr Pettie, to make the subscription 6s. It was also suggested that a canvasser should be appointed to obtain signatures to the pet'tion and collect subscriptions from members.

Last evening, Mr W. Gaudin. received the following letter from Mr G. Olatke, secretary of the Bombay Railway Lsague, the latest addition to the already large number of railway leagues which have been formed in the Auckland district to forward the Bast Coast radway : Bombay, August 27th, 1906. To the Stcrelary Railway League, Gisborne. Lear Sir, —At a meeting cf settlers of Bombay and surrounding districts it was decided to form a Railway League to further thß interests of the proposed East Coast Railway Giaborne-Auckiand, via Opotiki, Whakatan?, Maketu, Te Puke, Waihi, Paeroa, Maungatawhiri, Paparata, Bombay, and junction at Drury. A resold tion was passed to co operate with the Auckland and East Coast Railway Leagues, We have a petition now in the course of circulation setting forth some of the advantages of this route, and it will be duly presented by Mr Massey to Parliament. The following is a oopy of the petition :

The petition of Bombay, Pauarata, Atarimu, Rama Ram and Dinrv se'ttlers : That the settlers of the above named digtriata wish to point out some of the advantages of the prcpised East Coast Railway Gisborne-Paerca Drary route (1) That the said route would be some 10 miles shorter than via Pckeno ; (2) that a great area of back country and valuable bush country would be opened up ; (8) that coal and gold-bearing reefs are known to exist on that route ; (4) that a short line of three or four miles from Bombay would connect with the Main Trunk line at Pokeno, thus shortening by 10 milas the sa'd Main Trunk line.