LITTLE RIVER RAILWAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2232, 28 May 1881, Page 3

LITTLE RIVER RAILWAY.

A meeting re the above was held in the School-room, Little Biver, on Monday last. There was a fair attendance, [and Mr A. D. Allan took the chair.

The Chairman said that, as they were well aware, the rails of the Peninsula Railway were now laid as far as Birdling’s Plat, and that the line was|ballasted at both ends, bnt that a large portion in the centre was left unballasted. The vote for its construction was expended, and the contractor had tried to get an answer from the Government as to whether !he was to go on with the ballasting or not, but up to the present he had received no reply. The object of the meeting was to see what steps could be taken towards urging the Government to proceed with the work. Mr G. B. Joblin said that he thought the railway ought to be pushed forward. As things were now, it was like a bridge which lacked the flooring, utterly useless. It was a well-known fact, that if the railway were running a great deal more work would take place in the district, instead of as it is now being completely stopped, and numerous old settlers leaving the place for want of employment. No doubt the Government had great difficulty in finding funds to prosecute the many public works in progress, but the Peninsula Bailway was an exception. It found “oil for its own wheels,’ in the shape of an endowment and reserve fund. They no doubt knew that if this Lake Ellesmere Reserve were drained and sold, it would furnish £IOO,OOO after the cost of drainage had been paid; assuming that Mr Bray’s plan of drainage was adopted, which would cost £14,000. This reserve was of great extent, being seventeen miles in length, and ten miles broad. If this reserve were sold it would find funds to finish the line as far as Little Biver. Then there was the endowment of the moiety ef £IOO,OOO to be received from the sale of 50,000 acres of Peninsula! land, found chiefly in the Little Biver district, secured by the Peninsula Bailway Trust Act of 1876. Let these valuable properties be sold and funds would be produced for the prosecution of the required works. He (Mr Joblin) understood that the contractor had offered to complete the ballasting for £2OOO. This sum could easily be found, for £6OOO bad lately been paid into the Treasury for land purchased on the Little Biver Hills. Of this sum one half belonged to the railway fund. In conclusion, he would suggest the appointment of a deputation to wait upon the Premier on the subject, feeling quite sure their efforts would receive a favorable consideration.

It was resolved, on the motion of Mr J. Watkins, seconded by Mr W. Greenland—- " That this meeting again calls the attention of the Government to the unfinished state of thr railway along the Lake Ellesmere shore; the rails being laid from Green Park to Birdling’s Flat, but a considerable portion of the line still remains unballasted, thereby rendering it of no use to the settlers, who find themselves deprived of the advantages they expected to derive from the line, and suffer much inconvenience in consequence. Many good settlers have left the district, and others contemplate following the same course.” Moved by Mr Olpherte, seconded by Mr W. Joblin, and carried unanimously—“ That a deputation, consisting of Messrs A. D. Allan, Joblin, Coop, and Greenland, wait on the Hon. the Premier during his visit to Leestnn on Thursday next and represent to him the serious consequences resulting to the district from the delay in not completing the line.

' It was resolved that a copy of those resolutions be forwarded to the Premier hy the earliest opportunity.