RAILWAY CONFERENCE AT DUNEDIN.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 935, 23 June 1877, Page 2

RAILWAY CONFERENCE AT DUNEDIN.

[By Telegraph,]

[per press agency.] Dunedin, June 22,

A conference of the Chamber of Commerce and representatives in the Assembly was held this afternoon in reference to matters connected with the Otago railweys. The followresolutions were carried : “1. That this Chamber views with the greatest dissatisfaction the delay on the part of the Government in entering into contracts for the completion of the main trunk line of railway between Waitaki and Invercargill, and is of opinion that this delay is most detrimental to the promises repeatedly made by the Goremment.

“ That another communication of the opinion of the Chamber be made to the Government, and that the members of Parliament for the city and various districts of Otago be requested to give aid in urging this matter upon the immediate attention of the Government.

“3. That this Chamber is strongly of opinion that of the various routes proposed for the construction of a line of railway to the interior of Otago, that via Strath Taieri presents the fewest natural difficulties and opens out the longest extent of land availabie for settlement.

“4. That a public meeting should be held for the purpose of sending a deputation to Wellington to lay the matter before the Government.”

[from a correspondent of the ’press.] Messrs Macandrew, Stout, Reynolds, and Brown, M.H.R.’s, attended the Chamber of Commerce conference regarding railways. The chairman read correspondence, which showed that Messrs Proudfoot and Mackay were offering to construct the gaps in the main lines for fifteen per cent, above Brogden’s prices for the million contract, taking six per cent, debentures at par, or cash in payment, and pledging themselves to finish the southern section in nine months from the acceptance of the tenders. The Government, in reply, see no reason for letting works otherwise than by public tender. On the subject of branch railways, Mr Macandrew did not think any would be made in the colony for many a long day. If Otago had been left to develop her own resources every main road would have been turned into a railroad. Mr Reynolds said he would not vote for any branch line unless it was clearly shown it would pay something above working expenses, and only some lines in Canterbury and Otago did that. He urged the Chamber to study the inequalities of representation, ayd to move in that direction. Mr Stout urged the amendment of the Railways Act, in the direction of the Government, when it decided on taking over the line, giving the constructors something about prime cost, also the Counties being endowed with land for the purpose of making lines within their own boundaries. Mr J. C. Brown caused much laughter by saying that he had mainly succeeded in getting the Tuapeka line by making a bargain with the Taranaki members to vote for the Waitara line, and so getting their support. There was a warm passage of arms between Driver and Macandrew. The former persistently charged the city members with remissness last session, saying that it would have been better for their constituents* interests if they dealt less with sentiment and more with practical business. Mr Macandrew replied that the charges were without foundation. Otago would never get her railways until she got possession of her own again, and he hoped this session to produce such a revolution in the political wheel as would result in that. He would not sell his vote even for a railway at the request of any member of the Chamber.