MIDDLE ISLAND RAILWAY WORKSHOPS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1603, 9 April 1879, Page 3

MIDDLE ISLAND RAILWAY WORKSHOPS.

[Press Special Wire.] Dunedin, April 8. A conference between the committee of the Chamber of Commerce and members of Parliament at present in Dunedin, was held at the offices of the secretary (Mr J, S, Webb) this afternoon, for the purpose of discussing the question of the permanent site of the principal railway workshops in the Middle Inland. The following M.H.R.’s were present—Messrs R. Oliver, Henry Driver, and Horace Bastings. The Hon. W. H. Reynolds forwarded an apology for his absence, owing to prior engagement. Mr Webb said he had just interviewed Mr Conyers, who informed him that it was an entire mistake to suppose that the works now being constructed at Addington had anything to do with the principal railway workshop for the Middle Island. The principal workshop would be at Dunedin. Large workshops were now about to be proceeded with at Hillside, and a minor workshop would also be required at once at Invercargill. The following is a copy of a telegram forwarded to the Minister of Public Works on Monday last by Messrs Bastings, Driver and Olliver, M.H.R.’s“ Dunedin, April 7th, 1879. —Mercantile people here are greatly offended by proposed action of the Government in establishing principal railway workshops at Addington. Dunedin is, as you have often said, the principal centre of manufactories in the colony, and its local position in relation to the railway system of this island makes it the most convenient place for the main workshop. In our opinion the character of the railways of Otago, as to difficulties of grades, curves, and general construction makes a central place like Dunedin also the proper locality for general management, as was decided previously.” In reply to the foregoing, Mr Bastings received the following telegram yesterday:— “ Wellington, April Bth, 1879. Horace Bastings, M.H.R., Dunedin—Your telegram re Addington workshops will be laid before Minister on his return from Taranaki.— John Knowles, Under Secretary, P.W.” The meeting decided to take no further action until the reply of the Minister of Public Works shall have been received, confirming or otherwise the statement of the superintendent engineer for the Middle Island.