FOXTON SANDON RAILWAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 42, 21 January 1879, Page 2

FOXTON SANDON RAILWAY.

COMMITTEE MEETING AT SANDON. A meetip'g of the united committees of Foxtou and Sandon was held at the Sanson Schoolhouse on Friday last, at 7.30.p.m. Prosent from Foxton— Messrs Thynne and Giay,Dr Eockstrow. From Sandon — Messrs Sanson, Tompkins, Gawer, Prior, Bishop, G. Fartnei and 11. Hammond. Mr Thynne was voted to the chair. The minutes of last meeting, held at Foxton, on October 11, Were read and con- ' firmed. The Seorotary, Mr Prior, then reported what had been done since last meeting. A quantity of correspondence regarding the necessary plans, &c, was alao read. Mr Sanson said before aiy further business was proceeded with, he desired to see a small alteration made in tho plan. Mis land was placod iv the third class, and he was therefore rated at 3d, whilst other land in the district was placed in the second class, and rated at 4d. He understood ro > marks hid boon made u;*>on this, and as those who took a prominent part in su-e'i matters should be above suspicion, he desired although his land was lj miles from the proposed station, to be placed in the second class, and pay the extra penny. Indeed, he would be willing to pay la if necessary. He therefore moved, "that section 13 in the Hutt Farm Block he classed as second, and rated accordingly." Mr Gower seconded pro forma. Dr P.ockstrow objected to any alteration. If Mr Sanson were allowed to do so, others would claim the same right. He admitted it might be desirable for some reasons, to have this particular alteration made but it would opon up the whole question, and thore was no telling where it would end. The map as originally accepted, should not be touched, until it had been made public. Already an unnecessaiy delay of 3 months had occurred, owing to the plans not being in accordance with the Act, whioh was specific in its requirements as to scale, and he therefore thought they should delay no longer but endeavour to get the company floated and operations started at once. Mr Sanson, while admitting that an error had occurred regarding the plans, said .' the preliminary arrangements had been pushed on with all possible speed, and progress had been made. Where the mistake had occurred, was iv endeavoring to gain the necessary information too cheaply. Ins tead of corresponding the Secretary should have been despatched to Wellington to inspect plans aeoepted by Government from similar companies. Mr Prior pointed out to Dr Kookstrow that no alteration could ba made in the plans after they we^e made publio. The only question then for the public was the voto for or agaiust the whole scheme. £|Mr Thynne objected to the motion. Mr Sanson had nothing, to do with the plans. Thoy were arranged on a system as follows : — In towns, first olass ; 1 mile from station, second class; 2 miles from stution, third class; 3 miles from station, and to the limits of the district, fourth class. He understood the object of tho frequeut meetings •f the Committeo in the past was to provent opposition when it came before the publio, , Mr Gower said arbitrary lines must be drawn somewhere. Mr Simpson objected to paying 2d per acre as a speoial rate, as he had a railway line pap-ring his door now. [Mr Sanson — But we ,pay as much as ho does for that] Some time ago, they had expeoted to pay Is per acre. Mr Sanson's motion was then put and lost. Mr Sanson pointed out it was neoessary to have the plans tested, and moved. " That the reduced plan and estimates of Mr Barton, bo tested Mr Hayns, County Engineer." Mr Gower had every reason to believe Mr Haynes was thoroughly qualaificd for doing so, and thought it would be of im. mense advantage to know exactly what tho cost would bs. Ho believed Mi Hayns would go over the plans, &0., for about 10 guineas, and he thought the money could not be better spent. If the scheme would cost less than £30,000, it would be woll to know to it; if more, it waa equally desirable to know. Mr Tompkins had known tho County Engineer for nine years, and thought a better man it would be difficult to find ; his connection with the Patent Slip guaranteed

bis practial kiqwiel.o of c-njineerin-r, , mid he would f umi-sh tho .1 wit'i i fair idoi , cf w-ha*. the cost; wou-d bo, uotwitlntan -ling the^lffcfc that he livel in P.ilmeistoa. ..(Daughter.) A Uf Itoskjftrow cppo*'ed Aiy furfch *>r delay ,or cxpondifctire. A false c **mo ay had pro ■vailed- ("iuoe the beginning, bufc now M. time should be los*. The c ipit-il had bjea it-jwd j ' at £40,000. , ." ' '7-A Mr Thynne >s-iid they muit try and; ao aw iy with opposition. Sit Barton's edit- , mate had bao.i challenged, and it was neoessary, in asking, the public to take tip , pharos, to havaAthe ditta clearly laid ia\tji. * Mr Gower ""said Mr7Hayns would only 1 require three days to perform tho work. Mr Benson showed from the Aot the necessity of the plans, &c, being tested, and thought Mr Hayns a moafc competent man for the work. Unless this wero done, further delay might occur, by the plans beingreferred back. The motion was put and carried. Mr Sanson moved, " that tho Sandon Committee meet and examine "the books of reference." * Seconded by Mr Tompkins, and carried. Mr Sanson moved for an alteration of the constitution' df the company, to enable it to form the line boyond Sanson as far as the Bangitikei. River. He said the company would probably have sufficient money in hands to do it, and it would be a good step towards the through line. The County Council had given the necessary permission. Dr JP ockstrow said ■ in asking for that permission Mr Sanson had exceeded his powers.' / He thought tho company should keep to the one object. Messrs Tompkins and Gower opposed the motion. Mr Sanson replied to Dr Kockstrow that he had simply carried out the wishes of the Sandon people. Mr Prior said if the resolution were : passed- .Sfc Would bring the whole *ffl*iir de novo, and would lead tp the formation of a piece of waste line. Messrs Tompkins and Thynne fully admitted the necessity of tbe bulls line being pushed on with all possible speed, but thought it would be a mistake to throw over what had been done, aud start afresh. Mr Prior then said/upon referring to the Memorandum of Association, that the company already had the necessary powers to carry ou**- the resolution proposed.* The resolution was therefore carried. Upon the motion of Dr Rockstrow, it was decided that the headquarters of .the company be at Sanson. The Secretary was requested to make two draft copies of the Memorandum o Association for perusal by the Committees and it was resolved, upon tho motion of Mr Gower, "That duriug the coming week the Committees examine the draft articles, and take immediate stops to have them signed." Mr Sanson was unanimously appointed Chairman of the Provisional Direotors, and tho Bank of New Zealand were appointed I Bankers to the company. A vote of thanks for the earnest manner he had performed the duties of interim secretary wa3 accorded to Mc Prior, and he was appointed pormanent secretary, at a salary to be afterwards arranged. The prospectus was read through, and ordered to be considered more fully by a committee. It was resolved to advertise it in the Manawatu Herald, Bangitikei Advocate, and New Zoaland Times. Mr Gower proposed a vote of thanks to the Foxton members of Committee for attending. He was glad to see the interest displayed, and hoped it would be rooipro-» eatcd. He announced that publio meetings would be held on the 4th February at Sandon, and on.the 6th at Foxton. Their object* would be two-fcld — First, to advocate the Sandon line, and second to get up a demonstration in favor of the line from Wellington to Foxton. The importance of the question could not be over-estimated, and they wished to show the country that the surveyors and Government were right, but the people in .the Upper Distriot were wrong. Ifc was important to have through communication with the port. They should havo not ouly a through line, but that line must be to the port. The two gains should stand before the one. The porfc was the making of the county afc large. New Plymouth was striving to make a port at a cost of £400,0 30 : other places in the Colony aro spending large sums to improve their ports ; yet the Upper District was trying to chut out the port of a County which was secoud to none in .its, prosperity. Uo hoped to see highly successful meetings on the days mentioned. A vote of thanks was. accorded to the editors of the Manawatu Hbuald and Bangitikei Advocate, for attending to report the proceedings, and to the Chairman.