GREY-HOKITIKA AND MIDLAND RAILWAYS.

Kumara Times, Issue 3150, 8 December 1886, Page 2

GREY-HOKITIKA AND MID—LAND RAILWAYS.

PROPOSED DEVIATION AND CONNECTION WITH KUMARA. PUBLIC MEETING AT THE TOWN HALL. Pursuant to requisition to his Worship the Mayor of Kumara (FI. Burger, Esq ), a public meeting was held in the Town Hall on Monday evening, for the purpose of discussing and considering the proposed connection of Kumara with the Grey-Hokitika Railway, and the connection of Kumara with the East and West Coast Railway. There was a large attendance, and his Worship the Mayor presided. The Mayor read the requisition, and hoped that some of the gentlemen whose names he had read out would now explain fully the object of the meeting.

Mr R. J. Seddon, said he did not think there was any more important subject to the residents of Kumara at the present time than the connection of Kumara with the Grey and Hokitika Railway, and also with the East and West Coast Railway; but the one of primary importance was the Grey-Hokitika connection. Briefly put before the meeting the position it stands in is this. In 1879. the inhabitants insisted on having a loop, instead of the line going direct, and Government instructed the department to survey accordingly. He believed if Sir George Grey had continued to hold office we should have had the Grey-Hokitika Railway completed years ago, and the line running through Kumara. However, the present Government had now decided to go on with the railway, and to go on with it where it was left off. When Parliament met last session, he urged that it was unfair to leave the question unsettled whether there should be a deviation or not, and he took every possible step and occasion to have the deviation made. He was fully satisfied that it was absolutely necessary for the interests of the colony and Kumara that the deviation should be made. [Hear, hear.] When first the line was proposed, Kumara did not exist; but now we have a population equal to Hokitika, and he did not know why we should be left out in the cold. The traffic between Hokitika and Greymouth last year amounted to only 10,000 tons. With a railway, this quantity could be conveyed in less than a week. Hokitika was largely supplied by the settlers at the Kokotahi. The construction of the railway without the Kumara connection would result in a large deficiency in the working expenses. We have to pay the deficiency on railway lines iu other parts of the colony. He was only doing bis duty in agitating this question in the House last session ; it was then resolved that a survey should be made ; and shortly before the prorogation a survey was made. He regretted that he could not speak favourably of the survey. He did not wish to injure any man, but he did not think that a cadet who was earning only 7s a day was likely to he competent to make the required survey for the deviation. He had it on good authority that the person employed to make this survey would not be put in charge of the grade for a road. Everything may be correct as regards the survey, but from co respondence and telegrams which he would read, be had come to the conclusion that a serious blunder had occurred. Anything of importance which lie had written or received on the subject he had handed to the local paper. There were, however, a few telegrams which had not been published, particularly one in which the Minister for Public Works promised to send a superior officer to go over the ground surveyed. On the 11th October, he telegraphed to Mr Richardson as follows ; —“ Is the survey for deviation completed 1 Not satisfied of competency of surveyor, who is engaged for County Council in another capacity.” To this telegram he received the following reply ; To R. J. Seddon, Esq., M.H.R.

Your telegram re route of railway received. Plan of survey recently made now in office—not yet finally dealt with, and it is the intention of the Department to send a superior officer from hero to go over the ground. As to qualifications of the surveyor employed, I shall have that inquired into, but it need not follow that because circumstances compelled him to hold interior position that he is not competent for work entrusted to him. I know nothing of the man in question, and he was engaged to hurry on the survey, which was put in hand at your instigation, and to avoid unnecessary delay. We shall not allow' works to be delayed more than we can hole ; but probably they will be brought to a standstill before this deviation question is settled.

Edward Richardson, Wellington, October 13, 1886.-

The result of one line of survey was the discovery of a still—[Laughter]; on another a white crow was found hung up hy the horns in n tree. These were called Still Creek and Cow Creek.—[Laughter.] He would 'read the telegram he sent to the Minister;— To the Hon. the Minister of Public Works, Wellington.

Your telegram in answer to mine re route Grey and Hokitika railway to hand. I admit that stress of circumstances may make a most competent person to take an inferior position, but in this case such an argument ■will not apply. To place a person in charge of so important a work who cannot run a grade or keep a field book is to my mind a serious blunder, and- impresses one that it was never intended to find a practical route. The result was as might be expected, the discovery of an abandoned still and a dead cow, to mark whtch event two creeks have been named thereafter. I would most respectfully suggest that instructions bo given for another trial of that part of the locality lying between the Kumara Beach Road and Blake’s Terrace, or a little further south than peg 12. This done, the work of the superior officer from Wellington would be easy, accurate, and definite.

R. J. Seddon.

lie received no reply to that. On i he 9th November he telegraphed again as follows ;

To the Hon. the Minister of Public Works, Wellington,

Hokitika-Grey Railway.—Seeing there is no particular hurry for the construction of the line between Kapitea Creek and Teremakau, will you give instructions to engineer to hold the matter over until the inhabitants of Kumara have an opportunity of exploring the locality, for a practical ronte for the deviation exists.

R. J. Seddon. Kumara, November 9, 1886. On the 13th November, to his surprise, he received the following telegram : To R. J. Seddon, Esq., M.H.R., Kumara.

Hokitika-Grey Railway.—l now have a full report on the proposed deviation between Kapitea and Teremakau Rivers. The facts elicited are such that there can be no doubt that by far the best course to take is to construct the direct line, and provide for the Kumara traffic by a branch line. The difference in grade is such that the last deviation proposed would, in the working of the line when open for traffic, be equal to adding over seven miles to the length of railway. If you can fix it I will send you a copy of the Inspecting Engineer’s report. I shall now put the Teremakau bridge in hand.

Edward Richardson. Wellington, November 12, 1886. Before the 12th November the Minister stated that he would send a competent engineer to report. Then there was a contradiction. If a report had been sent, we should have had an opportunity of looking into the matter. But the Minister neither sent an inspecting officer nor a report. He therefore replied to the foregoing telegram, on the 13th November, that he regretted such a decision had been arrived at; he would place the matter before his constituents at an early date. A fortnight afterwards he saw a telegram in the Grey River Argus urging the necessity for the completion of the Hokitika-Grey Railway line. He considered it his duty to press for a further survey, and to this he received the following reply:— To R. J. Seddon, Esq., M.H.R., Kumara.

Replying re route of Hokitika-Grey Railway: This question, as I am informed by Engineer-in-Chief, lias been so thoroughly investigated that no possible good can come of further delay. In view of all the interests at stake I should not be justified in directing any further postponement, and I am informing the members for Greymouth and Hokitika, who are applying to me on the matter that the work will at once be proceeded with, and the Engineer-in-Chief has been instructed accordingly. Edward Richardson. Wellington, December 1, 1886. He still considered that we as a community were being unfairly treated, and telegraphed as follows : To the Hon. E. Richardson, Minister of Public Works, Wellington. Re Grey-Hokitika Railway, your telegram of yesterday is to hand. It is rumoured the cylinders for the Arahura bridge are not cast yet. Contract for completion extends to eighteen months after they are on the ground. Cannot understand anxiety to please members for Hokitika and Grey re deviation. Seems very necessary and urgent works on the line between Arahura and Hokitika wharf, and Tcremakau and Grey should have first attention. Your telegram of yesterday interpreted by the one sent to the member for Hokitika, I respectfully submit borders on contumacy to myself and my constituents. In the interests of the colony, setting aside personal feeling, will you allow cost of private survey if by same the inhabitants of Kuinara prove th i', a deviation is practicable between Tcremakau bridge and Kapitea Creek, grade not exceeding 1 in 50 and distance not increased by more than three mileSj and the route to be in accordance

w ith that I pointed out to yourself, tlie Engmeer-in-Chief, and 0. Y. O’Conor, Esq., Secretary of Public Works ?

Richard Jxo. Seddox. Kumara, December 3, 1886. So positive was he, after carefully compiling data, and after being over the ground, that the deviation would not increase the distance more than three miles, that he would himself pay the cost of survey if it were found impracticable to bring the required deviation within three miles over the original survey.—[Applause.] Bui if the Govemment were wrong, then it should pay the cost.—[Applause.] To that 'elegrnm, I received the following on Saturday last:— To R. J. Seddon, Esq., M.H.R., Kumara.

Greymouth-Hokitika Railway—l cannot understand how you can read my last telegram to which you refer in yours of yesterday as being offensive to yourself or your constituents, as certainly such was in no way my intention. Now, in reply, as regards the Arahura bridge, our advices show that the cylinders were cast before the 7th October. I expect tomorrow’s mail will bring us news of their shipment. There was no anxiety to specially please the members for Hokitika and Greymouth, but I simply replied to their pressing telegrams, &c., on subject of construction of the line. As to your request to pay the cost of fresh survey if line can be got with grades of 1 in 50, increasing length of railway by three miles, as a matter of fact we have sections of two lines surveyed as suggested by youself to Engineer-in-Chief. Both these lines will permit of grades of 1 in 50 but rise above the level of the direct line to a summit of 156 feet, so that if the deviation were adopted every ton of goods would have to be hauled up this additional height, which is equal to an additional length of seven miles on level.. On the line as at present laid out between Greymouth and Hokitika, there would be no grades steeper than 1 in 88, hence the decision I have come to. I may add that our survey shows that a branch line can be got to Kumara from a point two miles south of the Teremakau crossing, which will be about miles long, with grade not exceeding 1 in 50. You will therefore see there is no necessity for further survey.

Edward Richardson,

Wellington, December 3, 1886. Considering that there are lines in this colony at a grade af 1 in 30, he did not think the construction of the deviation would be attended with any great difficulty. He had been told that grades could he got in this deviation of lin 50. They have got to rise to the level of the Teiemakan bridge, 80 feet above the sea level. He had formerly stated that he believed the deviation would not he more than three miles j he now believed it would not be mors than two miles. The Government do not charge more for carriage for grade, whether it he linsoor lin 100. On the line as at present laid out, there is a grade of lin 88. You will observe that the Minister says:—“l may add that our survey shows that a branch line can be got to Kumara with a grade not exceeding 1 in 50.” Read fairly, 1 in 50 will do for Kumara, hut nothing less will do for Hokitika than 1 in 80. He sent a telegram to the Minister this morning, as follows:

To the Hon. E. Richardson, Minister for Public Works, Wellington.

Greymonth - Hokitika Railway.—Exceedingly pleased to have your assurance no slight intended. I could not understand how public interest conserved by member for Hokitika being on several occasions informed by the nature of your replies to my telegrams, seeing there was no reciprocity ; we were not informed of his telegrams ; they have not been published ; and we are in the dark as to their purport.

Your telegram of Friday last proves that cylinders for Arahura bridge cannot be on the ground before February next, so by terms of completion of contract, evidently bridge wont be finished before August 1888. Therefore no particular hurry for the formation and laying permanent way between Kapitea and Teremakau. In your telegram to me of the 13th October, you stated it was your intention to send superior officer from Wellington to go over the ground before a final decision was arrived at. Self and constituents anxiously awaited this officer’s arrival, and would have convinced him that further survey and exploration would prove not necessary to go anything near the summit reached on the two lines on which you had to decide. Your telegram of the Ist inst. took all by surprise. In answer thereto my reply was that the decision was arrived at on data which imperfectly represented the configuration and topography of the locality, and also stated that I desired to put the matter before constituents. You promised also to send me the particulars of the trial surveys. The only information to hand as to details is that contained in your telegram of Friday last. There is a public meeting to-night. I shall consider it a special favour if you will telegraph me this day further additional information on following points a. Is the lofi-fect summit referred to that much higher than the bridge at the Teremakau, or the highest summit of the direct survey route. R. Tiie Government bench marks levels ■it junction of Main and Soddun streets,

Kumara, give 200 feet as the height of the town at that point above the sea level. The Teremakau Railway bridge being fully 70 feet above sea level, we are anxious to know where is the alpine country situated between the Beach and Kmnara that is 26 feet higher than the town of Kmnara.

c. What is the distance from the nearest surveyed deviation to the bench mark at junction of Main and Seddon streets, Kumara, how much below this bench level is the deviation line where it crosses the Beach road ? n. How much does the best of the surveyed lines of the deviation actually increase the length of the line between the Teremakau, and where it joins the direct line south 1

e. How many feet higher than the Teremakau bridge is the highest summit of the deviation.

f. The surveys having proved branch line practicable, are we to understand that the branch line can take the place of the deviation, and be constructed as part of Grey-Hokitika Railway out of present loan and appropriations ? You have oft promised to visit the Coast. Come and see for yourself. From an engineering point of view the direct route may look the best, but for practical purposes, for the development of the industries in the district, for the convenience of two thousand people, and for the only way you have of making the line pay, the deviation in the interest of the Colony is the best, and I am thoroughly satisfied that on the spot, and after seeing for yourself you will agree with me. R. J. Seduon.

Kumai’a, December 6, 1886. [Ap|)|ause.] The information is of so important a nature that he (Mr Soddon) supposed the Minister had not time to answer.* Now as to the 156 feet summit —[Laughter]. If the deviation were adopted, he knew of no part of the country where they could reach that height between Kumara and the sea beach, and they would have to go up Sandy’s Hill to do so. No wonder at the Minister coming to the conclusion he had. He (Mr Seddon) was confident an easy gradient could be found. Were we for all time to remain unconnected by rail with the rest of the colony 1 ? As a community are we to see this wrong done us? There was a permanency about Kumara that was not about other places. The colony was pledged not to borrow. If we do not get this deviation, we shall have to wait another four years. Why should we wait for four years? We want connection —[Hear, hear, and applause.] Then we should have the cattle trade here. Kumara, by its geographical position, is bound to become an important town. He (Mr Seddon) had recently conversed with Mr Alan Scott on these railway questions, and that gentleman had spoken favourab'y of the connections. Mr Blair’s report, which went before capitalists and the syndicate at Home, suggested these connections with Kumara, But now, because half a dozen persons in Hokitika say “Hold your tongues! let’s get the money spent!” Kumara must remain silent, and unconnected with the railway system. He still hoped we should have this deviation carried out, and not have to wait for four years.—[Loud applause.]

Mr F, A. Olden said Mr Seddon deserved great credit for his action in the matter, and for what he was still doing. We want connection with the railway system; Kumara is a proper centre. If action is not taken, the railway will go round us. We ought to stand by our member. He bad much pleasure

in moving—

That in the opinion of this meeting, and in the best interests of the colony, it is absolutely necessary that the GreyHokitika Railway be so deviated as to connect Kumara. That unless this be done, a serious injury will be done to the inhabitants of this part of the colony ; and the railway, if made on the direct route, will not pay. That the configuration of the locality through which the deviation passes will permit of a line with easy grades and less altitude than that reported on and by which the Minister of Public Works has been guided in refusing the deviation. This meeting would strongly urge further survey, as there is no particular hurry for constructing the piece of line iu question. That, seeing the Minister of Public Works has promised to visit Westland, that he bo respectfully requested to let the matter stand over till

’"The reply was received yesterday and published last evening, and was as follows:

R. J. Seddox, M.H.R., Kumara.

it is not possible to answer your questions categorically, but I think the following figures give substantially all the information that is necessary in order to understand the state of the case : Summit leave, on best deviation, 212 feet; summit on coast line, 78 feet; north bank Teremakau, at crossing, 27 feet ; Kurnara township, where branch comes in, 257 feet. The best of the deviation adds one and a quarter mile to the length, of the lino.

I was in Cabinet till lata yesterday, and therefore unable to deal with your telegram. Hope you have not been inconvenienced thereby.

Edward Richardson, JVellington, December 7, 1880.

he arrives, and can then decide on the merits of the case.

[Applause.] He thought the resolution was one which ought to be cairied unanimously, as it was a most important one. Mr Smith seconded the resolution. The Chairman remarked that it was very impoitant that Kumara should be connected with the railway system. The only thing lie was frightened of was a stoppage of the works. Still he thought the resolntion was a step in the right direction. Perhaps it might be advisable to adjourn the meeting to to another night, until Mr Seddon received the reply to his telegram transmitted to-day (Monday).

Mr Smith said he seconded the motion because he thought we were entitled to a share of the loan. Whilst other parts of the colony were reaping a share of the money being spent, we should have a shate. He thought we were entitled to have a second or a proper survey.—[Applause.] Mr Seddon thought it would be well for the meeting to come to a conclusion to-night, and the sooner the better.— [Applause.] The motion was then pub to the meeting, and carried unanimously. Mr W. Morris said it was only n few months since they had a meeting on this question. He moved— That this meeting would strongly urge upon the Government the necessity of at once putting in hand the survey of the branch line from Kumara to Lake Brunner, as shown on the plans attached to the report of W. N. Blair, Esq., on the lands traversed by the East and West Coast Railway.

On the previous occasion, he stated that he thought we should be connected wiih the Hokitika and Greymonth line by a deviation, with the East and West Const Railway, and with the fertile lands in the south spoken of by the Hon. the Minister of Mines when on his late tour here. He believed the work would be done in time, and he thought that it should be done now.— [lL’ar, hear.] He saw no need for all this clamour and opposition in Hokitika and Greymouth. The people of these towns seemed to treat us in the same way that the natives of the “dark continent of Australia” treated their children—eat all the flesh, and chuck the hones to the picanninies. Some £70,000 or £BO,OOO had been spent on the Hokitika harbour works, and now they wanted a direct railway to Greynumth. lie did not think it would pay to carry the railway along the coast.

Mr W. S. Ha nna had much pleasure in seconding the resolution. As a natural consequence of settlement a railway or a road was always made. If it had not been for Kumara, we would never have bad a railway undertaken between Hokitika and Groymouth.— [Hear, hear,] Kumara was the central town, and cannot possibly go down ; it would take twenty years to develop.— [Applause.]

Mr Seddon referred to the number of people who could testify that, the best and nearest timber lies between Kumara, Greenstone, and Lake Brunner. From these would spring up the first saw-mills to supply Canterbury. The Mayor thought a good deal of this resolution, and of the branch line from Kumara to the Midland Railway. The motion was put, and carried unanimously. Mr Campbell said the matter had been well agitated, and it seemed bard that Kumara should lose this opportunity of being connected with the railway system. He always looked upon Hokitik a as being very foolish and selfish; they wanted all the benefit. If the beach line is constructed, there will probably be only one harbour attended to, and the Hnkitikians will have to get all their goods fiora Greymoutb. If the line were constructed through Kumara to Hokitika, Hokitika would benefit by it. He thought also that Kumara bush-ess people would suffer; but be was not selfish, they must consider tiie settlers. Then, again, if connected with the Midland Railway, Kumara would be nearer to Christchurch than Greymouth would be. All the advantage which Hokitika would seem to get was the money spent during the construction of the line. He was quite sure the peoule of bins district endorsed the action of ihe member for this district, and be should be pleased to see the lion bearded in his den. [Applause,] he moved

That his Worship the Mayor and the member for the district be icquested to attend a meeting at Hokitika to discuss the question of the Hokitika Railway deviation. That his Worship the Mayor communicate with the Mayor of .Hokitika to convene a meeting to discuss the matter. This resolution would give the people of Hokitika an opportunity of discussing the question. It wove better to ccrnv io some sensible mutual understanding, [A [(plans' I ,]

Mr Home seconded the motion

Mr Seddon said it was no fault of his that he did not attend the late public meeting at Hokitika on the railway question He was quite prepared to go and beard the lion in his den. Fie was quite satisfied that we were Hokitika’s best friends,—[Applause.] The resolntion was then put to the meeting, and carried unamiously.

Mr F. Barrowman had a formal resolution to put— That copies of the foregoing resolutions be telegraphed to the Hon. the Minister of Public Works.

This was seconded by Mr W. Wells, and carried unanimously.* Mr Seddon moved a vote of thanks to his Worship the Mayor for presiding; which was carried by acclamation. Mr Smith proposed a hearty vote of thanks to ihe member for the district for the lucid manner in which he had explained the matter.

This was also carried by acclamation, and the meeting then broke-up.