THE PROPOSALS FOR A NEW COUNTY, RAILWAY DEVIATION, AND RESTRICTING CHINESE IMMIGRATION.

Kumara Times, Issue 875, 21 July 1879, Page 2

THE PROPOSALS FOR A NEW COUNTY, RAILWAY DEVIATION, AND RESTRICTING CHINESE IMMIGRATION.

PUBLIC MEETINGS. During the past week meetings have been held at Stafford, Town, Gokl*borough, Dillmau’s Town, and Kumara, for the purpose of considering “proposals for a new Comity, railway deviation, and the restriction of Chinese immigration.” The whole of the meetings were very largely attended and resolutions passed in every instance affirming the desirability of the three subjects under discussion Prom the speeches made at the various meetings we summarise the chief remarks of the different speakers on the three questions for which the meetings were convened. His Worship tile Mayor of Kumara, who was Chairman on two of the occasions said, in reference to a new Conn tv. He was pf opinion that they must take some uctidli in the matter of the Arahura Road Board, as the County Council refused to merge the Board, and the next thing would be that the inhabitants of this district would be called on to pay a double rate. If the residents of the district were in favour of a new County, lie should support it : but at the same time he would point out to them that they would stand saddled with heavy liabilities. The revenue of the proposed new County would be about £BOOO a year exclusive of the Borough ; the debts of the Road 'Board and their share of the liabilities of the Westland County Council would be nearly £4OOO, which would be chargeable against the revenue of the proposed new- County. Personally 1 his interests would be best served by a new County* but the inhabitants of Dillraan's Town • and the Larrikins would do far better... by. petitioning to be annexed- to the Borough of Kumara, as, were this carried-out, they would have the most snug little Borough in New Zealandj with a revenue of £3OOO per annum. The Borough at the present time had- a credit balance at its bankers of between, ..£3OO and £4OO, and was perfectly clear of debt. He trusted whatever course the ratepayers adopted, they would do: it with their eyes open, andalob be la| away to take any injudicious steps o»the spur of the moment. In -referenceto the deviation of the railway line to embrace the centres pf population, he considered it was one of those things to which the inhabitants Were fairly and justly enThe people .here bad been ignored by the engineering department relative to the milking of this line. If the people.‘ who were the largest producers were not worth a railway, then he considered' the Government should make none at all. The line along. the beach was simply throwing money away, as dll .the Coal that Hokitika could Use and export coiild be sent down iii one train once a week. As for the impracticability, of the.proposed route inland, that was absurd ; the objection was chiefly made through a small clique who . had purchased land along the beach, and whose influence affected both the engineer and the West Coast Times in regard to this and other matters. He might probably not be long on the Coast, but he considered it was the duty of every man to live as if he intended to reside permanently here, and if eve*yone carried out that idea when they went to another place, they would And the advantages of it. In the matter of the railway deviation he trusted they would unanimously work together throughout all the districts, and plainly and strongly bring the matter before Parliament. As a bill for the restriction of Chinese immigration was to be brought in by the Government he would say little on the matter, but he considered it was a very necessary measure. Mr R. J. Seddon, speaking to the railway question, said that the subject had been brought before their notice twelve months ago, when meetings were held at Stafford Town, Goldsboroagh, and Kumara, to point out to the Government the desirability of altering the original route. In the report of the District Engineer to a Committee appointed by the House of Representatives he stated that the line inland was impracticable, which he (the speaker) had no hesitation in saying was a deliberate misrepresentation, as the Engineer knew well to the contrary. The grades between Dunedin and Christchurch were 3ft. in 50ft., a great deal more than what was required between Stafford Town and Goldsborough. He would underlie to state that any practical ■ miner would bring in a tramway along the deviation proposed by simply using three sticks as bisjmrveying instruments. In October, 18/6, when the District Engineer forwarded the report referred to, he never said a word about the 5000 people inland a line would benefit,

land jet strangely enough ho advocated the line to he extended to Koss, on the principle that it would be an ad van ■ a e to some 2000 people them From the tabular statement attached to the Engineer’s leport, he had been enabhd to a o irtain that th s line, when completed between Grey mouth and Hokitika, would give the magnificent return of £134 per week j that was supposing the Hokitika people used .50 tons of coal per week (with which they are credited) and all the merchandise and timber stated in the report was brought over the line. The District Engineer had told a deputation who waited on him in this matter that be would put his foot on any attempt being made to get a At tbe present time timber was being sent from here daily to Hokitika, as it was found far cheaper than sawing it there. Should the inland line be made, it would oj»en up a large timber trade, as the timber could be procured close to the line, whereas along the beach, tramways would be required to connect it with the railway. {The remainder of the proceedings Vill appear in our next issue.]

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