PROJECTED RAILWAY TO AKAROA.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1211, 21 January 1878, Page 3

PROJECTED RAILWAY TO AKAROA.

A public meeting of ratepayers of the Springs Road district, convened by the chairman of the Springs Road Board, was held in the Lincoln schoolroom on Friday evening last. Mr A. I*. O’Callagban, chairman of Springs Road Board, presided. There was a very large attendance of ratepayers from all parts of the district, and great interest was taken in the proceedings. The Chairman stated that the meeting had been called to obtain the opinion of the ratepayers ns to the advisability of carrying the projected line of railway to Akaroa, along Hudson’s road, providing the engineer to the trust should deem that lino of road most suitable for the purpose.” A. long desultory conversation followed, in which Messrs Currie, Miles, Parish, Bell, and Smith took part, and a strong opinion was elicited that it would bo better that the present reserve for railway purposes should be adopted, so as to connect tho Little River timber sections with tho Malvern coalfields, and make the line more remunerative as well as open out more extensive country. Ultimately, Mr Parish moved, and Mr Miles seconded —“That it is not desirable to use Hudson’s road as a railway lino for the following reasonslst, That no high road should be used for railway purposes. 2nd. That the

proposed line of road does not open up country that will be benefited so much as a line would if taken along the present reserve and through to Rolleston, in order to afford an opportunity of conveying timber from Little River and coal from the Malvern Hills.”

Mr Bell moved the following amendment —“That this meeting has every confidence in the trust, and does not wish to restrict their action in any way as regards the route of the proposed railway ; but this meeting thanks the chairman for calling the present meeting, and begs to request him to call another meeting of ratepayers when a fuller report on the subject of route is to baud.” The resolution was declared carried by 10 to 7, many of the ratepayers present not voting on either side.