NELSON AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 288, 3 December 1872, Page 2

NELSON AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

A large and influential meeting, which had been called by circular, was held at Mi Gee's hotel last night for lhe purpose of tuking into consideration the best mt-ans of 6ecuriug railway communicaiion between Nelson and the West Coast. The following gentlemen were present :— Messrs. Austin, Akersten, Acton Adams, E. Adams, Batchelor,* Braithwaite, Burn, Blundell, Collins, dotterel!, Darnel!, Doosod, Darby, W. Darby, jun., Drew, Elliott, N. Edwards, Fletcher, Fisher, Hadriow, Huddleston, Hihbl***, A. B. Jackson, H D. Jackson, E. Levien, R. Lucas, Luckie, Macdonald, MabiD, Marten, Newton, Pilt, Pollock, J. C. Richmond, A. J. Richmonti, Rout, Sclanders, St a vert, Squires, Stanton, Sharp, Thornton, Wells, aud Wadman. — Mr. Sbakp having been voted to the chair, Mr. Bout said ihat the conveners of the meeting were not prepared with any dis tinct sheme, but bad simply iuvited those who they thought would interest themselves in the matter to meet tog uher, and to give expression to their opinions as to the roost desirable method of aehievinu the end tney had in view. He should also like to hear some discussion on the probable utility or otherwise of the " Tramways Act." — The Chairman thought the time had come when the people should interest themselves in securing what were only their Jbare rights aod nothing more. They should not trust entirely lo theii members, but show that they were* prepared to back them up in obiainiDg that which was not merely a provincial, but a colonial work. He suggested the advisability of forming a Provincial Association to watch over the iDterestsof the proviuce,more especially with regard to the construction of such a work as they all desired, aD<i which, he was eopvioced, would prove the most paying line in tbe colony. — Mi. Luckie was glad to see so much interest taken in the matter. He thought that ii would be advisable to take advantage of the Tramways Act if it were likely to suit tbe purpose in view, but this he doubted , and thought; that if the work were to be entered upoD, it must either" be a provincial undertaking or be token in hand by a company— Mr. Pitt was of opinion that the framers of the Tramways Act did not contemplate such a woik as that undei discussion. It was clear, however, that some move must be made iv the matter by Nelson, anl that promptly, or she would b» cut out by Cauterbury, whose Superintendent had already expressed a desire to open up railway communication with Reelton. — Mr. Elliott had heard that, prior to his leaving the colony, Mr. Broaden had expressed a strong desire to reconsider the question of undertakin« this live according to Mr. Curtis' original proposition, and to* form a Company in London for the purpose of carrying it out. If such a plan were adopted, the nucleus of a company might be formed here. He suggested that a Committee should be formed to collect statistics and obtain all the necessary data for the work. — Mr. Acton Adams thought tbat a wooden , tram way might be constructed nt a small cost, an ci suggested a plan by which he believed the money might be raised under tbe ** Tramways Act." — Mr. Aebbsteu produced some calculations to show that a Wooden': tramway with iron-plated rails noigbt be constructed for £750 a mile.-— Mr. Sclanders had heard it said in other provinces " What right has Nelson to have, a railway ?". Be thought that she -had every right to one, and that in asking, to^ be/ allowecl to raise a Provincial loan for the purpose of carrying out this great work! she would only be demanding , what was fair to the Province, and would bo highly advantageous to the whole colony, i He; '"did ■ riot tLink7 that any thipg could be ; done under the Tram wayßVAct,7wlaich appeared to>;?him, rt districts" /^already^lettl^^^r;;. CoLXiNa '^bitejagr^ 8 8 ' '$" ity*' lairness of a Pioviqcial loab .being granted to Nelson, Which, he thought; i waa likely to fore very badly under the great echerae,

as she had already beetrgrossly neglected aod ill treated. He was exceedingly anxious to see communication established with tlie West Coast, and would do^lltin his power to obtain it. He should be perfectly willtDg to vote in his place in the House for a Provincial loan. — The Chairman thought, from what he had seen and heard ou the West Coast, that the people there would be very glad to see a through line from Nelson. — Mr. II D. Jackson considered that we had hitherto been too modest io our 'demands, that the proposed line to. Foxhiil. should never have been spoken of as likely to stop there, and that- if we pushed our claims we should- he successful. — Mr. J. C. -Richmond, in an interesting speech, udvueated the construction of the live, but trusted that the people would be conti lit with a lighter and cheaper line thnu those about to be constructed under the Gem-rul Government conn ads, A gauge of 2 ft. 6in. would, he believed, be ample for all our wants, as our. object was not lo obtain speed, x a rate of ten or tweUe miles ao hour being quite sufficitnt for all our wants. — In reply to a question from Mr. Blundell, Mr. Collins und Mi. Luckie stated tbat they believed the House of Representatives would, io the event of full and satisfactory data being placed before them, be willing to agree to a provincial loan for the purpose, undithe latter said that he was -prepared, uot only to vote in the House for it, but to exert all the influence he had. with the Ministry, and to use every endeavor iv bis power to obtain that which waa so urgently needed by the Proviace. — After some, further . discussion it was resolved : — ' That a Committee be foruutd to collect inlormation with reference-' to the practical carrying out of a railway through the interior of the country io connect Nelson with the West Coasi; such Committee to consist of the following persons: — His Honor the Superintendent, Messrs. Luckie, Hi chard son, Shepbnrd, Pai k«r, Collins, Sharp, J. C Richmond, Austio, Pitt, Acton, Adams, Darnel!, Elliott, Sclanders, ; Thornton, Akersten, Blundell, R. Lovien, ti. D. Jackson, R. Burn, and the mover (Mr. Hout:)', with power to add to their num.-. ber." Five to form a quorum.— The Committee then arranged lo meet at the same place on Wednesday eveuiug, at seven o'clock.