MAIN INTERIOR RAILWAY.

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

MAIN INTERIOR RAILWAY.

DUNEDIN AGITATION. The Conference of the Chamber of Commerce and the Members for Otago, which was to hare takeii place on Friday last, lapsed. Four members of Committee attended to arrange business. The Dunedin papers say there was some little misunderstand ing. OAMAEU AGITATION'. In Committee it was resolved, " That Mr. Hisldp be requested kindly to prepare a Bill, authorising the carrying out of the railway between Oamaru and Naseby, by means of a Railway Board, consisting of representatives of the Counties and Municipalities interested, the Bill to make provision for the necessary funds, say not exceeding £300,000, with a sufficient area of land set apart in the several counties, the revenue arising from which shall form a Railway Fund for repayment of interest and principle. The line, when completed, to be taken over by the Government, together with the fund established for repayment of its cost; and that a meeting of this Committee be held on Tuesday, the 3rd July, at 11 j a.m., to consider such draft Bill." WAIMATE COUNTY COUNCIL. Mr. M'Gregor said that as a member of the Waimate County Council he believed that the only way in which it would be possible to enlist the sympathies of that Council, and, indeed, of the residents of the County generally, would be to construct the line to Naseby via Dtintroon, so that a line could be constructed from Waimate, past Elephant Hill and up to Waitaki Eiver. From thence to the present terminus of the Duntroon railway there would be required a short line of eight miles to be constructed (as per sketch map produced), and this he had no doubt the Goverdmenfc would construct. If this were done Waimate would then have direct railway communication with the interior, and would be as near to Naseby by rail as Oamaru, if not nearer. To the Chairman of the Oaroaru-Xascby Railway Committee. Sir,—l am to inform you that this Council will have much pleasure in receiving the deputation on Wednesday, the 27th inst. I have tho honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, Geo. 'Pennant, Clerk to the "Waimate Council.. MACBAEB AND PAMIEBSTON AGITATION?N> (To the ' Daily Times.') Now the Macraes and Palnierston people want to call attention to the following route, which they consider possesses all the advantages:—To strike a course west from Palmerston, through by Stoneburn, Cottesbrook, Moonlight Flat, near the top of Strathtaieri, and round through the Hyde settlement into the Plain at its south-east corner. They consider its advantages—--Ist. Great ease of construction, following the leading ridges at a gradual and easy ascent, no tunnels,, no bridges; in fact, no engineering difficult ic.-;, as far ns they can judge. - ,' 2nd. After leaving Palmerstoa v-uv miles it is entirely through Crown lands of excellent quality for wheat or green cropping, which only wants an outlet and

cheap fuel and fencing to carry a verylarge and prosperous population. In fact, the petitioners, knowing the country, are certain, if Mr. Blair will only look for himself, these facta will commend themselves, which is all they have to trust to, as their influence seems to he nil. We are beginning to wonder if the Hon. George M'Lean has any connection .with " Pawkie Geordie," that used to come smiling and shaking hands with everybody, enquiring so tenderly for the wife and bairns, leading us into the nearest pub. to have a tot of whisky or Colonial: giving us a aly poke in the ribs, saying " Dang it, man, ye'll have to gie us a lift this time." If he has.not forgotten the band of Macraeites and Palmerstonians that stood firm for him amidst the excitement got up for the local candidate and turned the day in his favor, let him get Mr. Blair to give this a flying surrey, and let it stand or fall on its merits. That it would benefit immensely the whole community is the opinion of all who know it. Mackaeite.^ At the public meetiugon Tuesday last the following resolutions were carried : That a line of railway connecting Vincent County with the sea-board is urgently required.—That in the opinion of this meeting a line' of rnilwav connecting with Dimodin by Way of Mannherikia Viillev. Muniototo Plain, and Strathtaiers would bo the most advantageous to the Vincent fionntv, and beat calculated to promote the interests of the County generally, but this meeting declines to pledge itself to the Strathtaieri portion of the proposed line of railway if Communication with the sea-hoard can more speedily and easily be secured bv way of PaJtnerston or Oarcaru.—That no scheme will' be acceptable to the residents of this County which does not provide for immediate railway extension thereto, and also for the commencement of the works simultaneously at both ends.—That within their respective boundaries the Counties should be charged with the cost of construction of the railway, subject to tho supervision of Public Works Department, and that for this purpose they should be endowed with grants of public land equal in value to the cost of construction.—That copies of the foregoing resolutions bo forwarde-1 to the Minister of Public Works, the Bunedin Chamber of Commerce, tho Vincent, Maniototo, and Taieri County Councils, the Xasebv Railway League, and the several Huuicinalities within the said Counties. VINCE.Nf PI'KE, Chairman. EX-MIXISTEE OF PUPLTC WOKKS. At Christcburch on Friday last Mr. Richardson said :—" With regard to the continuation of the railways, the Public Works Act of last year provides that before any new railways can be constructed, a special bill must be passed and surveys and reliable estimates prepared beforehand. I think it is tiie duty of the Government as soon as they canto perfect the lines that are commenced, and then to study carefully the question of any extentions, and until the present lines are in working _ order not to go much "further, because it is not only the question of the completion of these lines as they were proposed. The progress of the "Colony has been so great and so rapid that the present lines are absolutely unable to carry the traffic, and on seve-al of them a large amount will have to be expended to meet the requirements. Although the country wants opening up, it will be the duty of the Government, before they go farther, to see that the existing and authorised lines are efficient." (Hear, j hear.)