WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Kumara Times, Issue 1328, 3 January 1881, Page 2

WEST COAST RAILWAY.

A meeting of gentlemen concerned in the promotion of a railway to connect Christchurch with the West Coast was held at the rooms of Messrs Wilkin and Co.* Christchurch, on Thursday afternoon last, at three o’clock, there being present Sir Cracroft Wilson, Mr Weston, Mr R. Wilkin, and others. Mr Wilkin was elected to the chaii. Before proceeding with the business* which was chiefly the don-

suleration of Messrs Brown and Thovfi* ton’s report, the question was raised us to whether it would he advisable to make the report public before waiting on the Premier in respect to the projected railway. . Mr Wickes explained that there was a desire to give the fullest possible publicity, .to. .their... pio-. ceedings, hvifc it had bCeii suggested Aat they would first lay the scheme, as embodied in the report, before the_ Premier, whom a deputation would interview with that object in the course of a few days. This view, tsf the. casft being generally concurred in, the proceedings were consideied to be in committee, It was resolved Messrs Thornton and Brown’s report

be withheld from the public until after a public meeting, which is to be convened next week.” Mr Brown theii read the report of the explorations made by him and Mr Thornton. Messrs Wickes and Weston addressed the meeting. A committee, consisting; of Sir J. C. Wilson, Messrs Wilkin* Anderson, Packer, ’’Thomas, Weston, Wickes* Pavitt, Williams, and Bairt. were appointed to interview Hon; J. Hall, to ascertain what concessions the Government Would be prepared to grant to a company. The -committee Were requested to convene a public meeting at as early a date as possible, with a view of forming -a company td catty out the work.