HOKITIKA-GREY AND MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Kumara Times, Issue 3158, 17 December 1886, Page 2

HOKITIKA-GREY AND MIDLAND RAILWAY.

PUBLIC MEETING AT HOKITIKA. [by our special reporter.] In compliance with a requisition fiom his Worship the Mayor of Kuni- j ara and on behalf of a public meeting hold recently in that town, a public meeting was conveued nt the Hokitika Town Hall on Wednesday night. There was a crowded audience, most of the principal men of the town being pieaent. His Worship the Mayor of Hokitika, H. L. Michel, Esq., presided, and introduced Mr Seddon in a few remarks, expressing a hope • that no resolution would be carried that evening which would give the Government an opportunity of shelving that most important work, the HokitikaGrey mouth Railway. Mr Seddon, M.H.R., said he was theie that evening in consequence of a resolution carried at a public meeting at Kumara. He thanked the late and present Mayors for their courtesy extended towards him. In justice to those who are electors in the Kumara constituency and to his many friends in Hokitika headdreased them. He was told that he would receive a warn reception ; well he would accept it. His agitation for the deviation had been misconstrued, especially by the Hokitika press, who have not given him fair play. All be asked of them was an impartial hearing West Coasters are, as a rule, not to be coerced. The West Coast Times had tried to prejudice him in every way. He claimed to have been a sinceie friend of Hokitika all through, and he was very sorry to see that he was so much misrepiesented. The speaker referred to various services he had rendered to Hokitika especially with regard to educational matters. It was Hokitika capital which mainly opened up the Kumara Goldfield. The Grey people had constructed a tramway, costing about £12,000, in order to secure the Kumara trade; they have always valued the connection with Kumara very highly, aud have done their best to develop that trade. If he was to judge from the Hokitika press, he would be led to belive that the Hokitika people wish to hand over to Greymonth the Kumara trade. He thought he would be able to make out a good cause. The Grey River Argus is "also advocating the direct route. Why? For the very same reasons that the Grey Argus wishes the temoval of the Supreme Court, the gaol, and other pn'.lic institutions. The Public Works Office has been removed to Greymouth and the southern part of Westland is being governed from Greymouth, which was detrimental to the interests of the people he was then addressing. It was due to the division amongst members to which he must attribute the downfall of the southern part of Westland. It had been said that Hokitika would flourish even after Kumara was wiped out of existence. This idea has been proved to be utterly fallacious. Fie had refused the seat on the Grey Harbour Board because he held it to be incompatible with his position in Westland. After thus dealing with personal matters, he would now come to Railway matters. He must refer to 1879, when he was accused of stopping the railway. He must remind them that then at that time he was plain Dick Seddon. Hokitika was then represented by "my uncle's nephew." Sir George Grey, who was then in power, had speot all the money voted for that work, and it was due to the defeat of that Government that the railway was stopped. It was treating the people of Westland with contumacy to say that it was due to the deviation that the rai'way was stopped. He now came to 1884, when the Stout-Vogel administration came into office. A cardinal point in their platform was that they would complete all unfinished railways, and for that leason he and Mr Bevan were the only two West Coast members who supported the Government. The same was repeated in various statements, and especially so this year in the speech from the throne. He must say that the Government have in that respect carried out their programme. He must remind them that last year the balance of the vote amounting to £4OOO, was intended for the Arahura bridge. Telegrams reached the i Hokitika mayor stating that that money would he expended for the "unemployed." What did he find? li- w,is expended for that purpose, and be contended that Hokitika did not i derive any benefit from the work i already constructed. If it were not for that money being speut on tbo uu-

nmployed, the railway would now be. finished to Kumarn. He abandoned •he Stafford deviation on account of its costliness. The speaker then went at full length inio the question of the deviation now proposed. He produced all the plans referring hereto, and he read the. telegrams hearinij on the subject which had passed between him and I the Minister for Public Woiks. i Mr Seddon then produced a large map winch he said had been prepared by the most compoti nt man. The Inst telegram sent by him to the Hon. Mr Richardson inquired of that gentleman whether provision or appropriation had been made for a branch line to connect the Teremakau with Kumara. He had received tl le reply that no such appropriation had been made as yet, and likewise the assurance that the fall amount for the completion of (he Hoki-tiki»-Givy Railway had not been voted yet. This conclusively proves that the last word is not spoken yet, and that it would at least take four years before even the direct line, if it should be decided upon, would be completed. It is, therefore, ridiculous to assert that the deviation which he was askin" in the interests of bis constituents would delay the work in any way. His hearers must be well aware that unless the Teremnkau bridge was built the "ine would not be available for traffic to Greymouth. Until this was completed, the deviation he was now advo. eating would be finished. The sum set down in the Estimates for the work this year was .£30,000, while in the Loan Bill, carried last session, .£76,000 were appropriated for the railway. It has been said that the latter amount cnold not be diverted by any means. Those who say so knew very little of parliamentary proceedings. Mr Seddon then related how he had been treated by the Hokitika papers. He had been misrepresented, he would not say wilfully, but it was due to the sadly deficient knowledge of the actual affairs of that question. He had taken care to inquire at the Public Works Office, Greymouth, whether anybody had inspected the plans and drawings, and he was informed that such was not the Ciis.\ He declared it impossible to give a proper opinion on the matter unless fully informed of all the features of the case. In the interests of both districts it was much to be regretted that public opinion was being led by men who weie so sadly ignorant of the true, nature of the deviation. Newspaper at tides should in the first instance be truthful. But what did he find in the two Hokitika papers. Both these papers, for once unanimous, had abused hitn in every way without showing cause. The speaker then dilated upon the engineering difficulties, which were greatly exaggerated by the people and the press. The alleged excessive grade was the first objection. He could assure them that the grade would not be less than 1 in 50, while the Midland Railway Company was quite satisfied to construct their line on a grade amounting to 1 in 40. The question of cost was next touched, and the speaker emphatically declared that the cost would be very litHe increased, and besides, Hokitika would have the benefit of the Kumaia trade. The merchants of Hokitika, he felt sure, laid great stress upon the possession of that trade, and how they could give up the advantages which the connection by direct line with Kumara would confer upon them was beyond his power of comprehension. He then alluded to the collateial advantages which would accrue to both places if the detour was agreed upon. His audience mast bear in mind that, once the railway had ascended a higher level, it would be comparatively easy to obtain an appropriation for the branch line to Kumara and thei.ee to Rocky Point. The speaker read the telegram and letter he had received from Mr Alan Scott, announcing his early visit in conjunction with Mr B. Hoare, the chairman of the directors in the Midland Railj way Company. These gentlemen had asked him to show them on their visit | all noteworthy points, so that they would be better able to judge. They should be warmly welcomed by the people of this district. His opinion was that the first block of land was the splendid black birch forest at the back of Greenstone. Coming then to the commercial aspect of the question the speaker proceeded to show from the railway tariff as gazatted on March 15th that the increase of freight would be very slight, and that there was a possibility of the department remitting any extra charge if this should be insisted upon by the two members. After making a few more remarks and concluding his speech, which lasted over two horns, Mr Seddon moved the following resolution :

j-nai. ia Llie opjaion ui Llio.so assembled the interests of ttio people of iuunara and Hokitika being identical, it is desirable that cordial good foeliug B h-ul(l obtain,

and the present favourable commercial relationship be maintained. That with a view of further promoting good feeling, and to prevent the Kumara trade being taken from Hokitika, it is to the interest of both communities that Kumara should be connected with the Hokitika-Grey-mouth Eailway, and seeing that a branch line is not scheduled in the Loan Act, 1886, and cannot otherwise be made for four years, and further, a deviation commencing at the Kapitea Creek and terminating at the Teremakau bridge having been surveyed, and reported on as practicable, with grades not exceeding one foot rise in fifty, and only increasing the difference as between Hokitika and Greymonth by one mile and a quarter, it is therefore desirable that such deviation be made, provided the same is completely finished simultaneously with or prior to the completion of the Arahura bridge. That in accordance with the promise contained in his telegram to the Mayor of Hokitika on November 13, 1886, the Hon. Minister of Public Works be respectfully requested to have the necessary work clone to connect the now finished part of the railway with the Hokitika wharf; also to have the siding at the Three Mile Creek surveyed, and the Railway finished from the Arahura road to the south end of the Arahura bridge.

Mr Burger, Mayor of Kumara, rose to second the resolution proposed by Mr Seddon. He would not detain the audience at any length ; he simply thanked tha audience for the patient hearing they had accorded to Mr Seddon, who had shown a great amount of pluck in presenting himself here that evening and facing the strong opposition. He would remind them that he and Mr Seddon were here as deputies sent by the people of Kumara who had unanimously agreed upon the course which Mr Seddon had advocated.

Mr J. R. Hudson at once plunged into a torrent of abuse. Mr Seddon had taken ciedit for himself in being instrumental for the removal of the Education Board from Greyrnouth to Hokitika and that the financial affairs of the Board was a satisfactory one. He (the speaker) declared that Mr Seddon was not telling the truth, liecause there were still many debts unpaid. As to the removal of the Board, he only could say that they were no better off under the present Board, with Mr Seddon as chairman, who had always shown the profoundest contempt for the Hokitika people. After referring to many personal and wholly irrelevant matters Mr Hudson moved the following amendment : That this meeting strongly protests against Mr Seddon's continued interferences with the construction of the Hokitika and Greyrnouth Railway, and hereby most emphatically declare that his attitude throughout the question is detrimental to the best interests of Westland. Further, that his allegations with regard to the practicability of a deviation of the line from Kapitea Creek are wilfully erroneous, and that his remarks with regard to the survey staff from time to time and his demeanour towards the people of this district is offensive, unwarrantable, and totally unworthy of a representative of the House from an adjoining constituency whose interests are identical in developing resources and opening up the country. He thought that the amendment would exactly fit in with Mr Seddon's resolntion. He contended that the figures and facts as quoted by Mr Seddon were not based on facts, did not deserve any consideration. Mr Seddon's pretensions for the welfare of Hokitika and the people south were not borne out by factor rather the contrary was the case. He quoted from Hansard from a speech made by Mr Montgomery on the passing of the Loan Act which shows that the unsettled route was causing a great deal of opposition in the minds of many members. He further alluded to the remarks made by the Mayor of Kumara who had held out threats. [Mr Burger: " No!"] He did not think they would be deterred by any such idle threats. After again quoting from Mr Richardson's speech on the Loan Bill, which went to prove that Government were contemplating the construction of the branch line to Kumara and Rocky Point, Mr Hudson finished his speech which was frequently interrupted and which was decidedly of a most unbecoming and insulting character.

Mr Pollock rose to second Mr Hudson's amendment. He would remind them that all his interest was in Hokitika and that it was not likely he would advocate anything which would be detrimental to the place. Ho referred to the leader and the local which appeared the day befoie in the Kumara Times. ITo declared the reference to his firm as coutained in the local a base fabrication, and it w.ih not difficult; tor him to trace ilio author of it. He avowed himself as a sincere friend of Mr Soddon, but would Jiot support, him in his present m.durtaking. Ho reminded the audience that Mr Seddon's agitation for the deviation was the cause of so manp men being knocked off.—[(hits, -; No, »o."l Mr Bevan, M.H.R., iu speaking to

the amendment, which he fully endorsed, Siiid that . lie was always opposed to any deviation, because he knew that such delays were the saf<Bt way of having a work shelved. Mr Seddou's allegations thai the Kumara wooden tram would compete against a branch line which according to Mr Richardson whs within the reach of probability, was nonsensical. After referring to the remarks made by the Mayor of Kumara, which he condemned as illogical, he produced a map which he declared was prepared by the most competent authority and which showed the ntter impracticability of the proposed deviation, which would have to traverse very rough country, a great m.-my gulches, some of them 60 feet deep. It was evident that the construction of a line over such rough country would cost n great deal of money, which he believed would not be voted by Parliament. He denied that the deviation would confer a benefit upon the Kumara people; a branch line would be far more acceptable. The people of Kumara evidently did not know their own minds. Mr Bevan referred to the monopoly in the shipping line which was being exercised in Hokitika, which would be swept away afier the completion of the line. He expressed a hope that this meeting would refuse to countenance any further interference with the railway. Mr E. Gibson attempted to speak, but, the disorder prevailing made his words inaudible.

Mr Seddon rose to reply, and said it was time to try the issue. He would first ask Mr Be van if he had ever agieed to that deviation ? [Mr Bevan, emphatically : " No, no."] Mr Seddon rep Med Mr Bevan's memory must be defective because in a letter published in the West Coast Times that gentleman had confessed to it. He did not, however, think that members of Parliament ever uttered any lies.—[Oh ! oh !] Mr Bevan was quite wrong in assuming that the resolution proposed by him was a catch-vote; this was not the case. The resolution simply contained his view of the case, and also those of his constituents, which they unanimously agreed upon at a recent public meeting. He must look upon the amendment as a direct innu.lt to his constituency. Some people say "Oh !" but that was his and Mr Burger's opinion. Mr Bevan's information about the cylinders for the Arahura bridge was not in accord with tlje telegram be had received fioni Mr Richardson, it was evident that they were not shipped yet, on the 7th October. Mr Seddon leplied to the arguments with regard to the length of the deviation ; he maintained it was only a mile and a quarter longer.— [Mr Hyams yelled out: " What about the bearding the lion in his den?" as contained in the KuMARA TIMES.] Mr Seddon repudiated that he ever made use of these words.

His Worship the Mayor said he had no sympathy with either the resolution or the amendment. Mr Seddon's resolution was perhaps not what the majority desired, but the amendment of Mr Hudson was undoubtedly a direct insult to the member for Kamara and his constituency. He would ask Mr Hudson to consent to excise the insulting words. Mr Hudson consented to strike out the word " wilfully," Mr Pollock remarking that although he would also consent, he would, if he had hia own way, use ten times stronger language. The Mayor then put the amendment, some 50 odd holding their hands up, and on the resolution of Mr Seddon being put to the meeting about 40 hands were held up. (The audience numbered about 400). On the Mayor announcing that he must declare the amendment carried, a general disorder ensued, Messrs Pollock and Hyams waving their hats in a frantical manner. Mr Seddon strongly objected to the procedure of the Mayor, and on the vote against the amendment being put to the meeting amid general disorder

about six hands were held up. Mr Hmsen moved, Mr H yarns seconded, and it was carried— That any deviation of the Hokitika and | Greymouth Railway line from the present route will be detrimental to the line, inasmuch that it would greatly increase the cost of construction in consequence of the extensive cutting required to reach the elevation on the tabic lands between K uvnar;!, and the beach, and che number ui bridges required across the various guliies and creeks on that route ; and fur:k,T that i.io additional length of line and cxlva cos' of u.0d,.g0 would be so greatly increased as to reader the railway incapable of compiling with water carvi.i ,'e in the l ra.:;.-.'.p >v'< of loinei'a'-, i- : iub:r. merchandise, and. ai passenger trafiic, iVc. This meeting therefore strongly urges the i'jovei'itmeiit not to allow any further interference with the present plans for j the eonsu'ueiioii of that railway. A motion was then carried that the

:r.;.,!.i<;o;i;-, '-.'.'. t;-:(.^,-,,pi !( ..': to 'he Minister for l'ubiio W :;ik.s. and tlie meet' ing broke up amid yreat confusion.