COUNTY COUNCIL.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 427, 23 June 1877, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING. OAMAHU-NASE3Y RAILWAY. The Council met at half-past three on the 20th June to consider tbe proposed railway to the Interior. Present—Tbe Chairman, Crs. Ewing, Williamson, Stewart, Laverty, Shannon, Foster, and Brown. COttKESPONDENCE. The Chairman stated the business, and read telegrams received from Mr. Vincent Pyke, Chairman of a public meeting held at Clyde on the evening of the 19th, aud also from Mr. John Pvoberts, a member of the Taieri County Council. A letter was also received from Mr. L. W. Busch, the Mayor of Naseby, announcing the vote by his Council of £25 towards the expenses of the Oamaru-Naseby Eailwny Committee, and expressing a hope that that amount would be considered a fair contribution. Mr. Robert Turnbull telegraphed from Duncdin regretting that urgent private business prevented his attendance. DEPUTATION. A deputation from Hyde waß introduced by Mr. de Lautour, consisting of Messrs. Flamank, M'Lean, and M'Kay. Mr. Flamank : Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen—Our object is a deputation is to ask your consideration of the Taieri Council proposals, and also to ask your influence to get the Strathtaieri and Outram line. It will be apparent to this Council that that line will open a very large area of Crown lands. It will come so as to advantageous to Macraes aud Hyde, and be within a short distance from Naseby. Seeing that we are intimately interested and that we have waited upon you on behalf of the public of Strathtaieri, I trust this Council will do its utmost in et-pport of our views.

__ Mr. M'Lean endorsed the remarks of Mr. Flamank. The Outram line would pass through good agricultural land except a small portion about the Lee stream.

Mr. Polland : Has the deputation any idea of the acreage of land available on the Strathtaieri line?

Mr. Flamank : 50,000 to 100,000 acres. Mr. M'Lean : The agricultural land would not extend so far a» the Sutton stream. Mr. Flamank : There is about 10,000 acres at Moonlight Flat, at a distance of about ten miles from the line.

Cr. Brown: What bridges would be re quired ?

Mr. Flamank: I am not prepared to answer that.

Some reference was made to a proposal to skirt the Taieri, and not cross until near the present Hamilton bridge, and thus benefit Hamilton, Soirburn, and Serpentine. Mr. A. M'Kay said lie know the Strathtaieri was the most likely line mentioned yet. The Strath would have been settled long ago but for want of a railway. That plain could not long lay without being opened. He trusted the Council would consider which was the best route for the districted for g the settlement of the country. Cr. Shannon : Would railway in Maniototo benefit Strathtaieri ? If a railway can easily be brought by another route would it injure you ?

Mr. M'Kay .- I don't think you can show us any route compared to the Strathtaieri having regard to the value of the lands. The Chairman thanked the deputation for the trouble they had taken in attending, and the Council then adjourned till 7 p.m. for further consideration of business.

Evening Sitting. Cr. Ewing i I beg to move the following resolutions : 1. Thnt this Council is of opinion that few lines of railway yet constructed in the Colony are likely to be more profitable than one to connect the interior of the Province of Otago with the sea-board would be, on account of the immense areas of unalienated agricultural land to be thereby increased in value and the traffic to the goldltelds. . 2. That this Council cannot understand whysnch a railway was not amongst the first undertaken in the Colony, nnd distrusts tho newly-awakened zeal of the local bodies interested in tho Strathlaieri route, thinking that the same would not have been aroused but for the energetic action of the County Council of Waitaki and people b'f Oam.iru in urging the feasibility of an interior railway through tho Marewhenua Pass to connect tho Interior with that port, and in taking immediate steps to prove tho practicability of tho same. 3. That this Council is of opinion that the Oamaru railway scheme, if proved practicable, should receirc its hearty support, and rotes the sum of £75 as its contribution to the cost of survey of same. With regard to the first there cannot be two opinions. Tho whole of the Interior which is unalienated will be opened up as well by one route as by the other. Certainly the lower portion of the Strathlaieri would uot be so immediately benefitted. As .to the second resolution, it is certainly very "difficult to understand why this lino Was not constructed instead of the lines along the coast, because the centre has supplied the most bources of general prosperity, and established tho Supremacy of Dimedin, and the prosperity of coastal towns in other Provinces is to be traced to the same cause. Moreover, in the case of railways already constructed, land had to be purchased, while the land which at no distant date must bo settled upon is still in the hands of the Crown. I view the Chamber of Commerce and even the Taieri Council with distrust, because we may safely say that had they not thought the tradeof the Interior was in danger they would not have awakened from their lethargy to think of the construction of the Strathlaieri railway, and even now wo have to consider whether their action is not more to frustrate the people of Oamaru than to benefit either themselves or us. I don't think the third resolution goes too far, that in tho opinion of this Council the scheme should bo supported if proved practicable, and in voting £75 tho Council is carrying out tho expressed desiro of almost all its members.

Cr. Shannon intended to have tabled a resolution, but would bo content to endorse Cr. Ewing's motion, which he had much pleasure in seconding. His motion was—- " That this Council vote the sum of £75 to be forwarded to the Oamaru-Naseby Railway Committee towards defraying expenses of survey of proposed line, and that this Council gives every support to that route." Mr. Rollaud: I will leave the chair to move tho following amendment: — 1. That this Council is of opinion that a railway from tho flea-board opening up the. interior district of Otngo is urgently needed, and, being desirous of such information as will enable it to conic to a decision upon what is the ucst route tor sneh railway,-resolves-That the sum of £75 bo forwarded to tho OumaruNascby Railwuy Committee to defray coat of Hying survey of proposed lino through tho Marercwhenuu Pass from Duntroon or Ngapara to Nnseby; and that tho County Engineer bo instructed to undertake at as early a date us possible a Hying survey of the proposed line from Dunedfn to Nnseby via Outrara from tho Sutton Stream to Mr. Coyle's surveyed railway lino through this County in conjunction with tho Engineer of tho Taieri County Council, with its consent.

2. That copies of this resolution be sent to the Chairman of tho Oamaru and Naacby Railway C'ommitteo and the Chairman of tho Taiori 'County Council.

Gentlemen—While I sympathise with much of what fell from Cr. Ewing, I feel he has gone too far. Ho far as data is concerned, the Council is ignorant. It has statements that this line and that is feasible, and that no difficulties exist ; but it has no data on which to come to a decision as to their cost and probable effectiveness as far as the benefit of the' whole County is concerned. I think this resolution is a compromise between the somewhat extreme views of Cr. Ewin<*, and what commends itself to other members of this Council. By taking tbia action we support the Oamaru Council, and assist them in the Burvey. We also .obtain information, while we do not absolutely ignore the recommendation of the Taieri, and,, their request

for support. I understand that that Council's Engineer has been instructed to make a flying survey to Naseby; it is, therefore, only proper courtesy on our part to offer the services of our Engineer. Before tbe 23rd July, if the Council decides to discuss the question, we shall have data from all sides. T am quite at one with Cr. Ewing in all that he has said with regard to the action, as 1 havo expressed iu another place, taken by the public men of Oamaru. I am quite aware that, but for their action, the Chamber of Commerce and the Taieri County. Council would not have moved. The Chamber had, however, been apathetic, not only upon this, but as regards the gaps on the main Hup, of itself, through the Don-con-struction of which trade has been going elsewhere. It is now waking up, and this question maj be the means of galvanising it into life. I should bo in favor of waiting till our next meeting, when we shall find out if these bodies are in earnest. It is probable, also, that tho County Council of Vincent will have then considered the matter. Its opinion would be very helpful to us. No doubt Vincent and Maniototo, and Taieri or Waitaki would have to work together in carrying out this line. Cr. Laverty : After hearing the resolution and the amendment, I find myself prepared to state my views. Fiist, 1 coincide with some of the remarks made as to the necessity of a railway and the ulterior motive which should actuate us—the promotion of settlement on the agricultural portions of the Crown lands. Unfortunately, the route Cr. Ewing proposes does not embrace that, the agricultural areas do not come within its range. We all know the quality of the land between Naseby and kyeburn. It is something like a romantic idea for any Company or party of men to set forth such a project: The thing appears to be got up for the bene, fit of those connected with the sea-board. It would be quite advantageous to have a line constructed to the sea-board. It would be well for us, as representing the countiy at large, to consider which line is most advantageous. No doubt we were indebted to the Oamaru people for their effort. That was no reason why, to assist them, we should jeopardise the interests of the County when we have other measures. If there was no other line open to them he would jump at the Oamaru line. Against it we have two proposals from Palmerston and Outram. The Pass hne opens nothing but wild desolate country lit for nothing but sheep. Outram has advantages which neither of the other routes have. It has miles of beautiful agricultural land, with an average amount of good depasturing land at its back; Along its whole line no finer land can be found in the whole of Otago. All present must endorse the fact that no other similar area is lyinc waste under the control of a few men in Otago : vast in extent, with a climate not to be equalled. He had never seen snow lying in the depth of winter—nothing but a vast sea of dark country with snow surrounding it. With these projects there is every proabililty of a line. We should not prejudice our clear interests by assisting any route to any great extent. The rivals are working strongly. Let us stand aloof for a short time in order that we may get proper data, Avhich yet we have not got. lam not prejudiced, but am here as a representative of a riding. That accusation of prejudice will be decided if we substantiate facts. I believe Oamaru would not be the market town, but Dunedin. Oamaru has no natural sea port; it is all superficial, and any moment may be washed away. We should aim at having direct communication with the principal town and the principal port. If we bring our produce to Oamaru we should not be able to ship it. It would have to go to Akaroa, Tihiaru, or Ohristchurch. For these reasons I am mo3t happy to second the amendment. Cr. Williamson : It appears to rco that we have not come to the time to discuss the desirability or capabilities of the various routes. The only prospect of a line we havo is one from Oamaru. There is something definite here. What we have-from Taieri does not sound much. So far as giving them assistance, why that is the only way we shall get a lino at all. Cr. Ewing's ideas are exactly mine. There would have been no action for years but for Oamaru. We can't help supporting them if we want a railway. By supporting the Oamaru railway scheme we do the very best thing to get the Taieri line. There is no definite proposal before us. The time has not come to decide the line. I think the Oamaru people or any other who will make a line deserve our hearty support. I 'don't see how we can help it. I support Oamaru most heartily.

Cr. Brown : I had intended to propose an amendment, but will forsake it. No doubt all things are correct and true as to the spirit of the Oamaru people, and he would do more than, they had already done. C». Ewing supports their route ;f practicable. I certainly believe that if the Oamaru people had not moved we should never have had a railway. At the same time I cannot blind myself to the Strathtaieri lino. The one we can get is the one wo should support. Ido not see that I can support the resolutions of Cr. Ewing without some data as to the cost of the line Cr. Foster : When I came here I had a lot of figures scratched, but I do not think that the Council would understand them, or that I myself could. I found myself quite confused, sitting for hours listening to a lot of gentlemen around the table, ordinarily supposed to have common sense, discussing a visionary scheme of constructing a railway over mountain tops, when one of the fairest routes that can be got is open before them It is well known, that a Hundred was laid off near the Sutton. The settlers had no outlet for their produce, and had to sell out to the large holder. He now proposes to lav off 300 acres in forest trees, and to make aii estate for his children. If Mr. Ewing had confined himself to his first or second resolution I might have supported him, but if I had supported the rest I should not fear to vote on any question in which I was personally interested, for there are clauses in the Act that persons of unsound mind should not be liable to penalties for voting in that which they are personally interested in. I shall support tue amendment. Cr. Shannon : The amendment means delay. We are called upon to-day to give a •atiafactory view. We ought to give an oj.inion, and go the whole length, or even further, in the support that we do give. If this Strathtaieri is the great garden it is made out to be, you may depend that a railway will go there too. There is more likelihood of getting the Oamaru line. It is looking twenty years ahead to consider the Strath one. What is wanted is a railway, and that immediately. Cr. Ewing : In reply to some of the statements made, and genera'ly to what has been said, I will take one of the last first, that of Cr. Foster. He characterised the idea as a romantic one. If by a romantic one he means an irregular one—out of the way—he may he right. All great enterprises have been so considered. George Stephenson was called a madman when he projected the line between Manchester and Liverpool. Cr. Foster need not have spoken so strongly for the motion was only, "if practicable" If it is over mountain tops there need be no fear—it is impracticable. The General Assembly meets very soon In this, as in any other question, a decision must be made—the worst better than none. The best was to go in heartily for Oamaru. (Cr. Foster • No, no.) If the people interested in the other line do the same, well and good. As to the routes, one line did not open more land than the other. The whole of the Upper Plains are opened up by the Oamaru line, as well as by the other, only possibly quicker.

The amendment was then put by Mr.

Holland, as Chairman, the result being : Ajcb— Cm. Laverty, Foster, Brown, and Holland; Noes—Crs. Ewing, Williamson, Shannon, and Stewart. Mr. Holland then gave his casting Tote for the amendment, which was declared carried. The Council immediately adjourned the further consideration of tjje question to the 2otli July.