THE AKAROA RAILWAY

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1248, 7 March 1878, Page 3

THE AKAROA RAILWAY

PUBLIC MEETING AT HALS WELL. A public meeting was held last right in the Halswell schoolroom, for the purpose of considering the most advantageous route for the proposed railway to Akaroa. There was a numerous attendance of the residents in the district. 'The business of the meeting did not begin till nearly an hour after the time advertised, when the Hon. Ernest Grey was voted to the chair. Ho opened the proceedings by expressing regret at the absence of Mr Stafford, who took a lively interest in the object of the meeting, which was to consider 1-lie line of country the railway between Christchurch and Akaroa should take. Mr Garforth moved—" That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that the Christchurch and Akaroa Railway should be taken through the Halswell and Tai Tapu districts instead of as at present proposed under the Ellesmere and Akaroa Trust Act being taken from a point on the Southbridge line.” Mr Milne suggested that the point of departure should be Addington. The Chairman thought it would be better not to fix the point of departure from the present line, it being a matter for professional opinion. Some point nearer Christchurch than Addington might bo fixed upon. Mr Milne thought the motion scarcely definite enough, as it might bo carried out, and yet not serve the object the meeting had in view. The reserves through which the line, starling as he proposed, would run, would make the line less expensive than if any other route were adopted. The Chairman thought Mr Milne had better embody his views in a separate resolution.

The Hon. E. W. Stafford here entered the meeting, and suggested that a reason for tlie resolution should bo given—viz., that the Halswell and Tai Tapu districts h»d no railway, were thickly inhabited, and produced a great deal. The Chairman said that another resolution had been prepared giving the reasons. Mr Milne thought it would be sufficient to say “ from Addington ” after the words “ lie taken.” Addington station would be the most desirable spot for the delivery of stock and distribution of grain and other produce. The resolution was altered so as to read as follows—* That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that the Christchurch and Akaroa railway should be taken from the Addington station through the Spreydon, Halewell, and Tai Tapu districts, instead of as at present proposed under the Lake Ellesmere and Forsyth Reclamation and Akaroa Trust Act, through Lincoln.” The Hon. E. W. Stafford said that though the title of the Act seemed to localise the line there was nothing in its wording to show exactly through what districts the line should be taken.

The resolution as altered was unanimously agreed to. Thp lion. E. W, Stafford proposed, and Mr Ecrgusson seconded tho next resolution, which was as follows :—“ That these districts are entitled to consideration in the matter for tho following reasons : —That the districts in question are thickly populated and supply a largo amount of produce of various kinds, viz., live stock of all kinds, dairy produce, grain, building stone and firewood, which would consequently ensure the railway being renumeral ive.” Mr Milne asked if reference could not be made to a map showing the canal reserves, which he thought could be utilized for a cheap railway. The Chairman coincided with Mr Milne.

The Hon. E. W. Stafford thought every one knew that there were reserves for a canal and a railway reserve running towards Tai Tapu. The intervening land was private property —some of it his own—which he would bo happy to give for nothing, providing he had a siding. f Applause.] Other gentlemen would no doubt give their land on equally favorable terms as it could be obtained on the other line.

The resolution was unanimously agreed to. Mr Milne said the reserves had been made on unsold portions of land in the Tai Tapu district. He was glad to hear Mr Stafford speak so favorably of the proposed railway. The main point was to make it pay. In making this lino he hoped there would not be bo many deviations as on the Southbridge line. Of course tho convenience of people residing in this district should bo consulted. He hoped the Government would approve of

the line. If not, a joint stock railway could be formed, as people now had the power to do so.

Mr Perymnn here 'asked to add to the last resolution some statistics in support of the line, which he had carefully compiled. As the resolution had been previously carried, he was recommended to propose the adoption of the stat istics independently. The particulars for the past year of the produce of the district in the area of ten miles by two miles proposed to be traversed, given by him, were as follows : —75,000 bushels of grain, 300 bales of wool, 90 tons of cheese, 80,0001 b. of butler, 20,000 sheep, 2000 pigs, 400 tons of root crops and hay—a total value of £40,000. He had made no mention of cattle, us they would not come by train. Were they included, the value produced from the district would be doubled. The Hon. B. Stafford could not understand why a breadth of two miles only should have been taken. Three hundred bales of wool lie thought a much too small estimate. Four stations between Ahuriri and Addington mentioned produced 400 bales. Mr Peryman explained that the reason he took only two miles was because the Prebblcton line could take produce from the land further away. Mr A. Wilson suggested that the statistics quoted were too incomplete to be of much use. Tie did not find fault with them, but he did not think they would influence the Government.

Mr Peryman did not quote them for the purpose of influencing the Government, but merely in compliance with a request made by some friends to the proposed railway.

Mr Leathern seconded the motion of Mr Peryman. The Hon. E. W. Stafford agreed with Mr Wilson in the opinion that the statistics, in consequence of their having been limited to so email a district, would hardly be sufficient to induce the Government to make the line. There would scarcely be sufficient for a train a week.

Mr Pervman withdrew his resolution

A vote of thanks to Mr Peryman for the trouble he had taken was suggested, but the chairman considered it out of place. Mr Milue moved—“ That this meeting is is aware that, through the distriots referred to, there are considerable reserves originally made for railway and canal purposes, which might be made available in the construction of this line, and thus materially cheapen the cost.” Ho thought no one could dissent from the resolution. When the reserves were made, it was considered that canals would bo more suitable to a flat country like Canterbury, but they were too slow for these times. As to the line to Lincoln, that must eventually be made, but it was not the object for which that meeting had been called. Mr Henderson seconded the motion. Diverting the line to Lincoln would be doing an injustice to the district represented by the meeting. He thought the Government would look wTEii favor upon the line now proposed. The Rev. A. P. O’Callaghan said he attended this meeting as a member of the Trust, though he was not a ratepayer of the district. The Trust, he believed, would be in favor of the line proposed. They had approved of the Lincoln line simply because it was the best from an engineering point of view. A line brought through the Halswell district would be more payable, and could be made at a less cost. The Trust had no desire for one point more than another, but simply to connect Akaroa with Christchurch. It was not a Government nor a joint-stock company railway, but a Trust. The members were merely following the recommendation of their engineer. Hon. E. W. Stafford thought the statement just made as to the views of the Trust was very satisfactory. The principle on which railways were made was not to construct them through the cheapest country, but where they would pay, however large the cost of their construction. He did not think there was anything in the Act to prevent the line proposed departing from Addington. Mr Milne briefly replied. Mr O’Callaghan wished it to be understood that the Trust were not in favor of the line proposed as the best line, but only as an alternative line. They felt bound to recommend the cheapest line to Akaroa. The Hon. E. W. Stafford agreed that the line to Lincoln was the cheapest. The Chairman put the resolution, which was carried. The Rev. Mr O’Callaghan asked if he might take copies of the resolution to the meeting of the trust. The Chairman had no doubt the meeting would bo happy to allow Mr O’Callaghan to have copies. The Hon. E. W. Stafford suggested that copies of the resolutions should be sent to the Minister of Public Works, Mr Peryman moved, and Mr Davies seconded the following :—“ That copies of the resolutions be forwarded to the Minister of Public Works, with a recommendation that Mr G. P. Williams, Government Engineer, be instructed to at once survey the line proposed.” The motion was agreed to. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the business of the meeting.