The Kumara Times Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1886.

Kumara Times, Issue 3155, 14 December 1886, Page 2

The Kumara Times Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1886.

KUMARA AND THE RAILWAY DEVIATION QUESTION.

In pursuance of the resolution passed at a public meeting in Kumara on Monday, 6th inst., that he should do so, the Mayor of Hokitika has convened a public meeting of the inhabitants of that town for tomorrow evening "to hear the views of 11. J. Scddon, Esq., M.H.R., and osiers, on the HokitikaGiey Railway Deviation question." Mr 11. L. Miche', the Mayor elect, will preside on the occasion. " From a Kumara point of view," writes our southern evening contemporary, "this deviation is necessary, and it would also be of great benefit to Hokitika if the change could he made. rjut we have been told over and over ag.tin for years past that the cost i.f connecting with Kumara would bo excessive. The Government have made a suivev and reported unfavourably of the scheme." Well, we are pieced to see that at least one of our contemporaiies franklv makes this admission, that "it would be a lienelit to Hokitika if this change could be made." To any one who win take the trouble to look into the matter from a disinterested (perhaps we should say mwlfish) p..int of view, and regarding it as a colonial work and not a controversy as between the inhabitants of two rival port towns who are ever jealous of each otliei's port, we feel satisfied they will be convinced, on a perusal of Mr Elan's (the Assistant Engineer-in-Chief's) Repoiton the East and West Const Raihvvy, ■„'.;(] J.e care-fully-prepared maps aeeoiupiinyino that, teport, and looking also to the situation of Kumara, geographically and topographically, that a great mistake bus

been niad<- in constructing any pnrt of tho linn between the Teremakau and th« Arnhura along the beach at, all. The railway from Gteymouth to Hokitika should run through Kumara, Goldsborough, and Si afford, not merely for the fact that it is only l>y passing through fcheae towns that Government can hope to make the line a paying one, but because Kumara is almost certain to be the junction of one or two very important connections hereafter, viz., a branch from the East and West Coast Railway at Rocky Point, or from the same at Lake Brunner via Greenstone—or both—to connect (at Kumara we say) to the line to Hokitika.

Roads and railways are supposed to be made to open np new country and induce settlement upon the lands, as well as to offer convenience and facilities to the public in traveling. The beach lino between Grey mouth and Hokitika will open up no new country ; on the one side is the sea, on the other beach terraces. When the HokitikaGrey mouth Railway was first contemplated, Knmara was not in existence. But when the finest alluvial gold-work-ings in the colony had been proved to exist here, it should have been the duty of the Government to deviate the entire route of the railway between the two rivers mentioned, so as to make the line as paving a concern as possible. This is no new theory or proposal : it was agitated in public meeting at Kumara atid in the local journals and by the representatives of Kumara and Greymouth over eight years ago—though our northern morning contemporary seems to have forgotten that fact—before ever a sod of the line was turned. At thepuhlicmeetingreferred to, which took place in the Kumara Town Hall on Satniday, the 14th September, 1878, " to consider if it was desirable that the route of the proposed railway between Hokitika and Greymouth should embrace Kumara, Goldsborough and Stafford Town, or if in the constmction of the line those places were to be Ifft out in the cold," the following resolutions were carried :

That inasmuch as the present surveyed line of railway between Greymouth and Hokitika runs no further inland than 20 chains from the beach, it is desirable that a detour should be made so as to include Kumara, Goldsborough, and Stafford Town : that this meeting respectfully points out to the Government—--Ist. That unless this is done seven thousand of the inhabitants of Westland would be deprived of the benefits and convenience of railway connection with either Hokitika or Greymouth. 2nd. That the proposed alteration would considerably augment the land fund of the colony, the land through which it would pass being Crown land, as against the old line, where all the land has been bought up in anticipation of the construction of the line.

3rd. That along the proposed deviation there is one of the finest timber forests in the colony. 4th. That though the distance would be slightly increased, yet the advantage in having the inland towns connected, and the carriage of goods and passengers would more than compensate for the distance and additional expense of construction.

sth. That at the time the first line was surveyed, the Kumara had not been discovered, and Stafford and Goldsborough were not considered sufficiently important to warrant the Government in including them in the proposed line ; and for that reason the reconnaisance survey was not so carefully made as it would have been if the Government were determined to take the line through that part of the country.

Gth. That if only Hokitika and Greymouth are connected, the question as to whether the line would be payable would bo problematical, seeing that both bars are equal and the sole traffic would be Greymouth coals to Hokitika, and Hokitika timber to Greymouth ; but if the inland towns were connected, the paying of the line woidd be ensured.

This meeting would therefore respectfully request the Government to have the survey made at once.

The meeting was crowded, and the resolutions were carried unanimously, without one dissentient. And we maintain that th- same snhstautial reasons given in the foregoing resolutions hold good still. Mr Edwin Blake, than whom no one could speak with better authority on the subject, from liia personal knowledge of the coon try. then stated that "The only route he knew the proposed line could take, and in which there would be no difficcltv as to levels, would, after pacing this township, go by the Shamrock Lead through Larrikins, and come out near Stanton's corner," at the junction of the Hokitika and Loopline roads. This may seem a great detour, hut by so doing there would have been no difficulty in connecting the other two towns, Goldsborough aod Stafford, en route to Hokitika. "He trusted he mk'ht yet see the railway in Kumara, a- lie stii! ihotigiit the East nod We«t. Coa«t Riilwny would be brought down by ihe TeremalcMu Valley." True ; and this is now one of the HOjoscu future lines, joining uear

Kumara. Then as to the northern lino, no difficulty has been experienced in connecting the Kumara township with Greymouth, for may we not point to the fact that the Greyraouth and Kumara tramway, a work of fourteen miles, was constructed by a private company in fewer months than the Government has taken years to rfiink about oonstmcting the through railway, which would only be in all about twice, the distance. Taken together the three inland townships of Kumara, Goldsboiou«h, and Stafford have a greater population than Hokitika; and why should the people of each of these townships be compelled to pay hereafter two charges—from two to five miles roadway to the railway and the railway fares and charges for freight—when the railway line should have run through their very townships? As regards Goldsborough and Stafford, it is perhaps now too late. The continual nagging at the Government to carry on the direct beach line from the respec tive terminals has done an injustice to the inland towns. Our southern neighbours, we consider, have been agitating a suicidal policy for themselves in opposing the railway detour first and now the Kumara deviation. Eight years ago the Westland County Council—a body which we believe well represented the people—carried a resolution approving of the detour we have alluded to. Why is this change come over them? Let not this fallacy be extended to Kumara !

The West Coast Times this morning indulges in a tirade of abuse against Mr Seddon, because that gentleman persists in adhering to his original opinion; but there is not a single com-mon-sense argument in the whole artcle upon the Deviation question, which winds up with the most prejudiced and bigotted piece of advice it is possible to offer to a discriminating and discerning public, as follows :—" This fact the public meeting should have before it: any listening to Mr Seddon's specious arguments would be fatal." " Having a bad case, abuse the other side" seems to be its motto. All the opposition to the deviation, we maintain, has been by the Government officers making it, appear that the detour in the first instance and the deviation in the next were too expensive, and the cry meantime from Hokitiki and Greymoulh to go on wiih the beach line from both ends—to have a few thousand pounds in circulation in their towns. Mr Seddon and the people of Kumnra and the Arahura riding generally sought a detour. When that appeared impossible, it was still sought to yet a deviation; and we hold sti 1 that, the detour was not impracticable, but that in view of future connections, which we have pointed out, this deviation at least for Kumara should now be made.

The Minister for Public Works left Wellington for Napier via Masterton yesterday morning. He also visits New Plymouth, and returns in about ten days, then comes to the West Coast.

The steamship Mariposa, with the San Francisco mails, arrived at Auckland yesterday morning. The s.s. Penguin sailed south with the southern portion of the mails at 11 o'clock yesterday morning. The Bulgarian deputation, which set out with the object of explaining Bulgarian affairs to the European Courts, are not to be allowed to do so in Russia.

An Australian-bound ship, the Mangaloro, having encountered a hurricane soon after leaving, had to return to London.

Two bodies and a quantity of wreckage have been recovered from the s.s. Keilawarra.

Commander Edwin wired urgent at 4.50 p.m. yesterday that bad weather may be expected between north and west and south-west, after 12 hours from then ; glass fall again, and wind backing within that time. And to-day at 12.16 p.m.— "Bad weather is expected after 12 hours from now, same direction as wired yesterdav ; glass fall again soon. Indications bad."

A rumour is afloat that Messrs Pollock and Bevan are contemplating opening a branch establishment at Greymouth, and are negotiating for premises on Mawhera Quay.

We acknowledge receipt from ihe Government Printer of a "Manual of Instructions "for raising Mulberry Trees and Silkworms," by Herr G. A. Schoch. The manual has been compiled for the purpose of giving a few practical hints as to the best methods of planting and propagating those varieties of the mulberry tree which have been found to be most adapted for silkworm food. The instructions given therein will be found useful to cultivators of this useful tree and industry.

Sir H. R. Rae, Clerk to the County Council, has suffered so much from continued ill-health for several months back

that Dr. Collins, his medical attendant, advises, if possible, a permanent change of climate, scene, and occupation.

Mr James F. Byrne, the honorary secretary to the committee appointed at a public meeting at the Oddfellows' Hall Stafford, on the 3rd of April last, to col' loot funds on behalf of Mrs Joseph Brown and family, whose much-respected husband died at his residence, near Goldsborough on the 4th of February last, tenders the most cordial thanks of the committee on behalf of Mrs Brown and family to the subscribers for the generous support which they have given. The following is a statement of the receipts and disbursements :

Dr. M'Brearty notifies that ho may now be consulted at his private residence, on the Hospital Reserve, or at his consulting rooms, Seddon street, between the hours of 9 and 10 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m., and 7 and 9 p.m. The Rev. John Whewell, father-in-law of the Hon. Thomas Russell, has died from an attack of apoplexy. He was the first Wesleyan missionary in charge of the Friendly Islands. Indigestion.— The main cause of nervousness is indigestion, and that is caused by weakness of the stomach. No one can have sound nerves and good health without using American Co.'s Hop Bitters to strengthen the stomach, purify the blood and keep the liver and kidneys active, to carry off all the poisonous and waste matter of the system. See

RECEIPTS. £ s. d. Waimea 23 13 6 Duffers ,. 0 17 6 Dillman's [[[ 25 0 o Foxes \ 13 G 0 Humphrey's Gully ... 19 2 G Stafford \" 10 7 (3 Hokitika 29 1 G Kumara ... 9 14 6 Taipo .'.*.' ''] 8 0 o Greenstone 0 G o Oddfellows' Lodge Stafford!!! Piper's Flat \\ 2 0 1 3 0 (3 South of Hokitika ... !.! 14 0 o Hokitika District I.O.O.F Lodge 20 8 6 Subsidy !" 130 0 0 £313 1 0 DISBURSEMENTS. Expenses of collection 10 5 o Cash paid Mrs Brown 302 16 0 £313 1 0