THE NORTHERN RAILWAY EXTENSION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2621, 31 August 1882, Page 3

THE NORTHERN RAILWAY EXTENSION.

PUBLIC MEETING AT SYDENHAM, A public meeting, convened by hi* Worship the Mayor of Sydenham in response to a requisition presented to him, took place last night in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Colombo rood. There was e fair attendance. His Worship the Mayor of Sydenham occupied the chair, and briefly opened the proceedings. He said that the matter waa one of the greatest importance, and if Government were permitted to carry ont their monstrous proposal the bone and sinew cf New Zealand would have to bear the cast. The proposal to spend a million of money is this direction was simply throwing the money into the sea. He believed that the West Coast Bail way was the one which should be made, and in this he was supported by the great majority of the inhabitants of Canterbury. Tne members for Canterbury should be asked two questions—(l) Yes or no, to the construction cf the East Coast Bailway, and (2) Yes or no, to the construction of the West Coast Bailway. Then the constituents should be prepared to say that they would not if they could not get the West Coast railway have that to Blenheim, Hs would not farther detain them, but ask Mr J, T. Brown to move the first resolution.

Mr J. T. Brown said he was pleased to find that the ratepayers of Eydcnham had had an opportunity of raising their voices against the proposed waste of money. The resolution he had to propose was as follows :—“ That in the opinion of this meeting the proposed extension of the Middle Island trunk railway from Waipara to Blenheim will be a waste of public money, and is against the best interests of the colony, particularly those of Canterbury, Westland, and Nelson, and a gross injustice to the residents of the country, and that this meeting earnestly and respectfully r»quests the members of the General Assembly to oppose its construction." The speaker then read extracts from the report of Mr Foy, the Government engineer, on the proposed route of the East Coast railway, whose opinion was that the main trunk line could never pass through the Cheviot HUI> district. Yet {they found that the Government proposed to make this line, against the reports of men capable to judge. The namee of the gentlemen through whose land the railway would pass were Messrs Moore, H. J. Hall, J. Anderson and Studholme, Clifford and Weld, and Hon. W. Bobinson. There was no country to hold out the slightest hope of remunerative traffic on the line as proposed, and there would be not the slightest chance of the railway paying. He would not longer detain them, but move the resolution he had read. {[Cheers], Mr Scott seconded the resolution, and quoted from “ Hansard ” to show that Canterbury was badly treated in respect to the loan now about to be raised, this district only receiving £387.000 out of it. The Mayor said ho had received the following telegram from Mr W. White, jun.:— “ Am and have been doing all through the session all that is possible to get the East and West Coast railway constructed.— W. White, jun.” [Cheers]. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. Mr Fisher proposed the next resolution as follows :—“ That, in the opinion of this meeting, tho best interest of the colony and Canterbury will be studied by expanding the moiety of the loan allotted to Canterbury in tho construction of the Northern line of railway from Hurunni via Eeefton to the W e*t Coast, and that the members of the General Assembly be requested to urge the Government to continue tho line in that direction." The speaker dilated at some length on tho mineral and other natural resources of the West Coast. Mr Andrew seconded the motion.

Mr Wickss spoke in favor of the resolution, and suggested that a committee should be appointed to carry out the objects held in view by the resolutions.

Mr Webber also spoke in favor of tho resolution.

The motion was then put and carried unanimously. Mr T. Pavitt moved—“ That a committee, consisting of the chairman, Messrs Jones, Dawson, Andrew. Brown, Webber, and the mover, be appointed to watch the action of the Go vernment in the matter of constructing further railways in Canterbury, and if noccsEEiry to report to a future meeting." Mr Graham seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Dawson moved —“ That a copy of the resolutions which have been passed by this meeting ba forwarded by his Worship the Mayor to the members of the General Assembly.” Mr Jones seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed, the meeting.