MOUNT SOMERS RAILWAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2296, 12 August 1881, Page 3

MOUNT SOMERS RAILWAY.

Nearly three hundred people assembled in the Town Hall, Ashburton, on Wednesday evening, to discuss the furtherance of the Mount Somers railway in accordance with Mr Triphook’s original survey. A number of residents from Mount Somers and Alford Forest districts were present. Mr Hugo Friedlander, the Mayor, presided. The following resolutions were carried :—Proposed by Mr W. O. Walker, seconded by Mr A. E. Peaohe—“That the Tinwald line be extended from the end of the present formation across the south branch of the Ashburton to the Buecleuch township (commonly called Mount Somers) in a line as near as possible to the one originally approved by the County Council and Bead Boards, twenty-one miles of which were surveyed by Mr Triphook; as this meeting is of opinion, that, unless the line crosses the South Ashburton as originally proposed, it will not open up the Mount Somers and Alford Forest districts, or enable them to supply to the country at large the valuable coal, timber, and building stone there contained in such unlimited quantities.” Proposed by Mr O. W. Purnell, by Mr Joseph Clark —“ That this meeting is of opinion that more vigorous efforts should be made, with a view to completing the Tinwald and Mount Somers Bailway, in order to render it practically useful to the district it traverses and remunerative to the colony ; while further, its early completion to the terminus at Mount Somers originally contemplated, would enable a tramway company to be formed for the purpose of opening up the mineral regions and interior parts of the Mount Somers and Alford Forest districts generally, thus augmenting the traffic on the Mount Somers railway, and largely enhancing the prosperity of the Mount Somers and Alford Forest districts, the town of Ashburton, and the county as a whole.” — Proposed by Mr Ivess —“ That a deputation be appointed to proceed to Wellington to support the resolutions.” —Proposed by Mr L. B. Corsbie —“ That this mooting is of opinion that a loop line should be constructed without delay from the Tinwald-Mount Somers railway to Alford Forest, along the route surveyed by Mr Triphook, it being of equal importance to the interests of the districts affected that Alford Forest should be connected by railway communication with the town of Ashburton as it is that Mount Somers should be so connected; while the construction of a branch lino to Alford Forest would be likely to materially augment the traffic on the main line of railway, and consequently the receipts of the Bailway Department.” Proposed by Mr T. B Hodder, seconded by Mr A. McFarlane — “ That the chairman be requested to send copies of the foregoing resolutions to the Speakers of both Houses of the General Assembly, the Hon. the Minister for Public W orks, and Mr E. G. Wright, M.H.B.” — The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman.