ELLESMERE AND FORSYTH RECLAMATION AND AKAROA RAILWAY TRUST.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1351, 13 June 1878, Page 3

ELLESMERE AND FORSYTH RECLAMATION AND AKAROA RAILWAY TRUST.

A meeting of the members of this Trust was held last night at Lewis’s Buildings. Present—Mr E. C. Latter (chairman), Rev. A. P. O’Callaghan, and Messrs Reynolds, Parkinson, Dalgleish, Marshall, Gebbie, Joblin, and Bell. Air Montgomery was also present. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman stated that he had received an opinion from Messrs Hanmer and Harper to the effect that the terms of the Trust would be complied with if the terminus for the present were placed somewhere on the Akaroa side of the watershed; also that it was not necessary to serve notices at present on the landowners through whose property the railway would pass. With regard to the action which was pending—Millett’s case—the Trust was sued for £BB, and judgment had been given against the Trust for £B4, including costs. He (the Chairman) did not know whether the Trust would appeal or not against the judgment, but he had deposited the amount necessary to enable an appeal to be made. The opinion of the Trust was against the appeal being made, and the payment of the amount of the judgment was authorised. engineer's eeeoet. Tho following report was read : Ellesmere and Forsyth Reclamation and Akaroa Railway Trust. Christchurch, 12tli Juno, 1878. The Chairman Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth Reclamation and Akaroa Railway Trust. Sir,—ln submitting to you my usual monthly progress report on the survey of Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth, and also that of the Akaroa Railway, I have much pleasure in stating that the survey plans of the former work and detailed drawings, five in number, as described ii my ast month’s report, are completed, with the exception of some descriptive writing that remains to be done, which will only occupy from four to five days. I also consider it necessary to make further soundings acro-s Lake Ellesmere in order to arrive at a still more accurate estimate of the area of land to be reclaimed. With reference to the Akaroa Railway plans, I regret to state that the surveyor whom I engaged on this work has failed to fulfil his agreement with me. He faithfully promised to complete the work early in April, but it was not till near the end of May, about a fortnight ago, thit I received the plans of the first fifteen miles, and a further length of nine miles on Monday last, there being yet the plans of some seven miles to be delivered.

Ruir tracings of the first twenty-four miles of the line, i. e., from its junction with the Southbridge branch at Lincoln to Little River, are completed, together, also, with an index map on a scale of 40 chains to one inch, embracing the whole country between Lincoln and Akaroa, showing both lakes and the Harbor of Akaroa, upon which will be laid down the whole line of railway. I have, therefore, reason to hope that tbe whole of the plans relating to the drainage of the lakes, together with my final report thereon, will be ready to deliver to you by the end of the present month, and those of the railway aboat a fortnight later. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, J. M. Hardy Johnston. AI. Inst., C.E.

The Chairman said that he and Mr Montgomery had gone over the plans and found them in a forward state. The whole of the work could be completed within three weeks if extra clerical assistance were employed. He did not see any difficulty in getting all the information necessary for Mr Montgomery, who had kindly taken charge of the matter in the House of Representatives. Mr Johnston was here asked to’state at what date he would have everything complete. Ho replied that he could not complete everything in less than four weeks, as no one could now assist him.

Mr Montgomery was asked if he thought the delay of four weeks would be too long. He replied that ho could not give any opinion in his place in Parliament without having all the information as to cost and land which would be inquired. This information he should receive from the Trust before leaving Canterbury. The House might meet ou the Ist July, but possibly would not before the 14th or 15th July. Mr Johnston having guaranteed that all would be completed in four weeks, the Trust declared themselves satisfied.

The usual progress payments were voted. The meeting then adjourned to Wednesday, the 10th July, when the Trust will consider the plans, etc., of the whole scheme, and when Mr Montgomery promised to be present.