EAST COAST RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2196, 21 May 1908, Page 2

EAST COAST RAILWAY LEAGUE.

A meeting of the East Coast Railway League was held in tlie Borough Council Chambers yesterday afternoon, the President (Air. J. Townley) being in the chair. Others present were: Alessrs AV. L. Rees, J. Whinray, AV. D. S. Macdonald, A. F. Alat•tliews, R. Al. Birrell, J., Peckover, E. H. Alann, C. A. DeLautour, Hon. Captain Tucker, the Mayor (Air. AV. D. Lysnar) and the secretarv (Air. AV. J. P. Gaudin). The extension of the line to "Willows Crossing was commented upon, and it was resolved to congratulate the Government on the completion of the section, and to invite Che Premier and members of Parliament to be present at the opening ceremony. A motion expressing appreciation of tlie services of tlie Hon. Jas. Carroll and the Alinistry was carried. It was moved that the Government be requested to make an adequate appropriation to enable the next section of the railway to be pushed oil to Rakauroa with .all possible expedition.

, Air, AVhinray, in speaking to the .motion, made mention of the timber (j'rade that would follow the further progress of the line, and said that its .early development depended almost entirely on the rapidity with which rtlie railway works were pushed on. 1 Air. Rees said that if the preliminary work were done as far as Itakaupoa, then the Government could allow the milling companies to lay light Yailwavs on the earthworks, and a great benefit would thereby be reaped both by tlie Government and the settlers. He estimated that-ten millions feet of timber would lie brought down yearly, and an export timber trade would be commenced. The ultimate benefit ■of this to the district as a whole would be considerable, and the Government would, without additional expense, find its revenue increased by at least £7500 pe rvear. Air. Alacdonald endorsed the remarks of previous speakers. There was, bo said, no place before■ Rakauroa suitable for a railway station and yard. The line should be taken to ltakauroa as soon as possible, and the commencement of a huge timber industry would speedily follow . Air. Matthews suggested that tho Engincer-in-Chief should be seen before the GBvernment bo approached, and Air. Townley agreed. The motion was carried.

Captain Tucker thought it was the duty of the League- to ask that the formation of the earthworks be proceeded with at once, both in the interests of the settlers and the millers ns well as the railway itself. Ho hoped that the earthworks would he completed as early as possible, and that permission would he given to . timber owners to lay temporary tramways thereon. He moved that the Government lie urgently requested to cause the earthworks to Rakauroa to be pushed on as rapidly as possible with ■i view to enabling the timber-owners of that district to supply cheaply the sleepers and other timber required’in the construction of the railway, and also to enable the owners and sawmillers of that district to lay a temporary line, by means of which to bring to the railhead the valuable produce of their district, and so provide means for themselves and freights for the railway. Mr. Rees;, in seconding the motion, said that the League must endeavor to get the next section of the railway proceeded with at once. It was useless to wait to see the Engineer-iu-Chiof or anyone else. He had had tlio assurance of the Under-Secretary for Public Works, Mr. H. J. H. Blow, that the Government would do what it could to ensure speedy progress. Captain Tucker’s motion was carried. The question of making arrangements for the opening function of tho section to the Willows Crossing was mentioned, and Mr. Lysnar moved that a committee consisting of Messrs tV. L. Rees, C. A. DeLnutonr, J. Townley, and R., M. Birrell he appointed to work in conjunction with . the ■ County Council, the Borough Council, and tho !lai;bor Board to make suitable arrangements. —Carried. It was resolved/ on the motion of Mr. llces. seconded by Mr. Matthews, that a public meeting be arranged whilst the Ministers arc here, to urge upon the Government the necessity of the immediate construction of that portion of the Gisbovne-Rotorua railway as lies between Willows Crossing and Rakauroa, and its ultimate rapid extension to Rotorua. The meeting then terminated.