THE WAIRARAPA RAILWAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4849, 6 October 1876, Page 2

THE WAIRARAPA RAILWAY.

A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce, consisting of the Chairman (Mr. W. H. Levin), Mr. W. M. Bannatyne, Mr. E. W. Mills, and the Secretary (Mr. Carroll), had an interview yesterday with the members for the Wairarapa, Mr. Andrew and Mr. Bunny, and the members for the City, Mr. Pearce and Mr. Hunter, when two letters were read and considered, one from Mr. G. W. Dalrymple, dated Masterton, 4th September, the other from Mr. W. Booth, of Carterton, dated 12th September, as published below. After soma discussion, it was resolved that a letter should be addressed to the Hon. E. W. Richardson, the Minister of Public Works, asking him to fix a day next week to receive a deputation, in order to present copies of the letters referred to, and to bring the importance of pushing on the railway to Featherston as rapidly as possible, and afterwards continuing it to Masterton, under that gentleman’s notice. “ Carterton, September 12, 1876. “Sir, —I beg with sincere respect to ask from you a favorable consideration of the following statement and request sent through me by the Railway Committee of Carterton and Taratahi, Wairarapa ; “ On the 31st August last a large public meeting of the inhabitants of this district was held at the Marquis of Normanby Hotel, Carterton, with a view to urge upon the Government the immediate determination of the route the railway is to take from Featherston to Masterton, and an early commencement of the work. The meeting was presided over by the Rev. Wm. Booth, and was addressed by an influential deputation from the Masterton Railway Committee. “ The following gentlemen were appointed a standing committee to co-operate with the Masterton committee in promoting the railway interests of the Valley : —Richard Fairbrother, Thomas Moore, John Reynolds, W. Booth, senr., Charles Potts, E. S. Richards, Rev. W. Booth, H. Giles, W. W. Corpe, Geo. Stewart, Thomas Bennett, Thomas Waldin. “ At a meeting of the above committee, held in the Marquis of Normanby Hotel, Carterton, on the 2nd instant, I was instructed to communicate with you, and request that you would lay before the commercial Chamber over which you have the honor to preside, our earnest desire that they should appoint a deputation to unite with one from the Valley in waiting upon the Hon. the Minister of Public Works for the purpose of representing to him the views and wishes of the population of these large districts on the subject of railway communication. “ The carrying forward of the railway from Featherston to Masterton is of very great importance to us. Wool and all other crops of the Valley would at once become more valuable to the grower if the cost and risk of transit to Wellington could be lessened.- This result will be in a measure secured when the railway communication is completed to Featherstou ; but the railway is only fairly accessible to the whole Valley when it is continued to Masterton.

“Again, the cheapening of transit of supplies from Wellington will no doubt enlarge greatly the Valley trade with Wellington merchants, by promoting settlement and increasing the purchasing power of the community.

; “ It is also of great importance to remember that extensive timber forests in' the Valley, useless now, and which axe in daily process of destruction, would become at once a crop. of great value with the railway carried through.

to Masterton. Only totara forest at present- has a marketable value in Wellington, but with cheap carriage other timbers would find already sale in the city, and would give a greatimpetusto the Valley trade, and become a- very considerable source of wealth to the population here, and of course the Government ■also.-''

“ To secure this important result the railway must go through the bush, which is beyond Featherston. some miles, beoausejloading at the mills on drays, and carriage to Featherston, with the cost of further transit to Wellington, would still keep timber, other than totara, out of the market there. •

“ It is the opinion of well-informed men here that if the .contracts for formation were let soon, and a longer time consequently given to contractors, because of the incompleteness of the other sections in course of construction, a much lower price would be taken for the work, and a considerable saving be effected to the Government, while a large amount of surplus labor now undoubtedly existing in the Valley would find a much needed employment,, to the mutual advantage of Government and people.

“We think that the traffic returns from the section of this line now at work, with the certain prospect of a large and profitable trade on the remaining section, will warrant the Government in pushing on the railway works with all possible speed, at least as far as Masterton.

“ It is proposed to ask the advice and assistance of the gentlemen who represent the Valley and the City in Parliament in carrying out the objects of the committee, as detailed in the foregoing statement.—l have, &c.,

“Wm. Booth. “ Chairman Carterton and Taratahi Railway Committee. “W. H. Levin, Esq., Chairman of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Wellington." “ Masterton, Wairarapa, Sept. 4, 1876. “ Sib, —1 have been requested by the Masterton Railway Committee to ask you to lay before the Chamber of Commerce of Wellington the following statement relative to their appointment and operations. “At a public meeting held in the Town Hall, Masterton, on the 7th July last, it was resolved—

“ That a committee be appointed to watch the progress of railway works on the Wellington and Masterton line, and take such steps as they may think proper, with the view of urging forward the completion of the line to Masterton, and that the said line be brought as near as possible to the centres of population; said committee to consist of Messrs. Henry Bannister, William Lowes, J. lorns, R. G. Williams, William Jamison,' E. , Wyllie, Sir William Stuart Forbes, Bart., J. M.' Rockel, J. M. Girdlestone, Robert Garrick, and T. J. Allan ; William Lowes, Esq., of Te Ore Ore, chairman ; and myself hon. secretary. “ The committee placed themselves in communication with the members for the district, Messrs. Bunny and Andrew, and requested them to bring forward a motion in the Assembly, requesting information as to the progress of the sections of the line situated between Masterton and Featherston. The reply made by the Minister for Public Works was—That that portion could not be constructed yet. The engineer had not gone over the ground to decide what course up the Wairarapa Valley the line should run. He would do so, however, in sufficient time to prevent any delay being occasioned in the prosecution of the work.

“My committee not deeming that reply at all satisfactory, caused further inquiry to be made, the result of which is that they are creditably informed that the contracts in hand between Upper Hutt and Featherston will be completed and ready for traffic in about fourteen months from this date, and that the survey, construction of bridges, and earth works on the Valley portion of the line, even if commenced at once, could not be sufficiently forward to admit of the immediate laying down of the rails at the time when such materials and the necessary engines could be brought through the Rimutaka into the Wairarapa.

Therefore the committee have requested me to lay these facts before your Chamber, and solicit your interest in the matter. I need not point out that as representing the commercial interests of Wellington, the port of entry to the province, and therefore the depot from which our supplies are , drawn, you are jointly interested with us in the immediate prosecution of the work in question. At present the resources of this large and important district are practically speaking valueless from the difficulties of transit to Wellington ; and not until the railway is formed will the difficulty be obviated, and a thorough reciprocity of commercial relations be established.

“ I have further to inform you that I have been requested to communicate with the members for Wellington and the members for the Wairarapa with a view of getting them to join a deputation of your Chamber to wait upon the Government, should your Chamber deem such a step advisable. I shall be happy at any time to furnish you with any further information your Chamber may require.—l am, &0.,

“G. S. Wemtss Dalrymple, “ Hon. Secretary. “ To the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, Wellington.”