AKAROA RAILWAY TRUST.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1291, 9 May 1878, Page 3

AKAROA RAILWAY TRUST.

A meeting of the Akaroa Railway Trust was held last evening at 7.30, in the new Board room of the Trnst, in Lewis's buildings, Hereford street. Present—Messrs E. C. Latter (chairman), J. Gebbie, A. P. O'Callaghan, J. Bell, J. Ronnie, J. G. Murray, D. Marshall, G. E. Joblin, and G. Dalglish. Mr Hardy Johnston, engineer to tho Trust, was also present. ENGINEER'S RErORT. The engineer's monthly report (accompanied with explanatory diagrams)! was read as follows : Christen ureh. May Bth, 1878. The Chairman Ellesmcre and Forsyth Acclamation and Aknroa Eailway Trnst. Sir,—l have the honor to report to yon that the progress made iu the survoy and plans of Lakes Ellesmcre and Forsyth, and also in that of the Akaroa Railway, is briefly ns follows:—Lake Ellesmere.— Drawing No. I—The whole of the field work is completed, and tho survoy showing accurately the liue of ordinary flood, is being plotted to a scale of 20ft. to one inch. Tho fair copy of the plan will be ready to lay before the Trust at its next general meeting. It may also be mentioned that the whole of tho survey is connected with the trigonometrical stations in the neighbourhood of the Lake, and that the total length of traverse chained amounts to ninety-seven miles. Drawing No. 2—The fair copy of the plan of the Estnary fchowing the proposed drainage works at the mouth is completed. This plan is plotted to a scale of one chain to the inch, and has soundings figured in feet throughout the Estnary and to seaward for a distance of ten chains from high-water liue of an ordinary spring tide. Drawing No. 3—A series of eighteen cross sections of the Estuary taken at a distance of from five chains to ten chains apart, and laid down to a horizontal scale of one chain to the inch and 20ft. to the inch vertical. The fair copy of this drawing is in preparation, and will bo completed in a few days. Drawing No. 4—Details of design showing plans and transverse sections of portions of the proposed works drawn to a scale of sft. to one inch. This drawing will be finished in a week or ten days. Borings—A boring has been mode on tho shju&le

spit at the month of the Estnary. The holo was sunk by moans of a 2-inoh pipe to a depth of 60ft.—i.0., 50ft. bolow highwater datum—with the following result—viz., 36ft. flno shingle; 4ft. yellow oolored flue sand, very hard; 10ft. yellow grey colored coarse sand, very firm and hatd to drive through; 6ft. clay mixed with ahiuglo, and forming a hard concrete; and lastly, 4ft. of flno shingle and clay, forming a still harder concrete mass than the last. I consider the above highly favorable for carrying out the proposed works. The boring was entrusted to Messrs Armitnge and Unwin, of Christchurcb, and the work was well and faithfully executed. Lake Forsyth.—Drawing No. s—Plan of the Estnary and portion of the sea coast at month of tho Lake. The survey and soundings havo been completed some time, and I am in hopes the fair copy of the plan will be roady to lay beforo the Trust at its next meeting. Akaroa Koilwny—Tho length of the line surveyod up to date extends from its junction with tho Southbridge Branch Railway, at Lincoln, to Barry's Pass, being a distance, together with alternative or trial lines, of thirty-six miles. The remaining length to Barry's Bay will be completed in six or eight days. Meanwhile, the plans and sections aro being plotted, and it is expected that a fair copy will bo completed early in noxt month. I have the honor to bo, Sir, Tour obedient sorv».nt, J. M. Hardt Johkstok, M. Inst. C.E. The report was considered satisfactory, and, on the motion of Mr A. P. O'Callaghan, was received and adopted, and the monthly progress payment passed. Tho minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. SIB. JOHN COODB. The Chairman stated that efforts had been made to obtain tho opinion of Sir John Coode with reference to the Lake Forsyth reclamation scheme, and Mr Montgomery had taken a great deal of troublo in tho matter. Tho proposal had been made to Sir John when he was hero recently, but that gentleman had stated that it would be impossible for him to give any opinion in the time required. It would bo essential thfit a great mass of information should be collected' which it would bo impossible to do in the timo at his disposal, and it would bs at losst six months beforo he could sead out an opinion from England. Whatever the opinion of the Trust might be of the value of Sir John Coode's services, there could bo no doubt that their thanks were due to Mr Montgomery for the interest he. had evinced, and tho trouble ho had taken in the matter. engineer's final report. Tho Chairman >-aid that Mr John-ton had that day informed him that his final report would not be ready before the beginning of July. He wished to make it as complete as possible, and he should r.. quire that timo to do it in.

PRIVATE PROPERTY. A discussion aro3e as to the propriety 'of giving notice to all person "rough whose property the n»»r—«* ""0 of railway was likely to j,ao», out as tho terminating point of the railway at Akaroa was not yet determined, and the notices could not be given until that was decided, it was resolved that the question should be referred to the Trust's legal adviser. It was proposed by Mr Gobble, seconded by A. P. O'Callaghan, and carried—" That tho solxitors to fcUo Trust >m consulted as to whether the terms of the Act will be complied witn ir uuo survey of tho railway line is completed for tho present so far as the mouth of tho tunnel on the Akaroa side of the watershed, leaving the ultimate terminus to be decided on by tho commission."

It was moved by Mr Gebbie, seconded by Mr O'Callaghan, and carried—" That the chairman cause notice to be given tho owners and occupiers of land through which it is proposed that the contemplated railway shall pass." [he following resolution was moved by Mr Gebbie, seconded by Mr Marshall, and carried: —"That the thanks of the Trust be given to Mr Montgomery for his services in obtaining the consent of the Government to Sir John Coode reporting upon the drainage of Lake Lllesmero."

The meeting then adjourned until Wednesday, June 12th, at 7.30 p.rm