PROPOSED WELLINGTON AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5392, 9 July 1878, Page 3

PROPOSED WELLINGTON AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

According to notice, a public meeting was held at Mr. Prosser’s Club Hotel, Pahautanui, on Saturday evening last, to consider the question of the proposed West Coast line of railway, Mr. D. Galloway was appointed chairman of the meeting, and having read the notice, lie called upon the gentlemen who had signed it to express their opinion. Mr. Blackey said he thought it desirable that the railway should come through Pahautanui and Horokiwi, and his opinion-was that a petition should be drawn up at once and signed by the settlers to present to Parliament. Hr. Peed. Buadey said although he was not one of those who called the meeting, still his interests were identical with those who had done so, and he should be very glad to see the line brought through Pahautanui, and for the information of the meeting he thought it would be desirable for the chairman to read the reports of the engineers, which were lately published. The request was complied with, and Mr. Pearce addressed the meeting. He thought the settlers should bestir themselves and do all they could to induce the Government to bring the line this way, and that No. 3 line should have the preference, and although we had not got the timbered country which the Government appeared to want, we had got an open made country, with settlers located on their farms.

Mr. Goldfinch, proposed, and Mr. Bills seconded a resolution, —That a committee be formed to gather all the information they could, and report to the Government that No. 3 line was the best.

Mr. Fred. Bradey proposed an amendment, —That a deputation be appointed from this meeting to wait. upon the Minister of Public Works with a petition. Mr. Blackey was of the same opinion, and would second the amendment. Mr, McDonald said we must not take a selfish view of the matter. It was not likely that the Government would make a railway for the benefit of the few settlers at Pahautanui. They had to study the interests of the West Coast generally. After a good deal of discussion, Mr. Bradey proposed, —That a committee of five be appointed to draw up a report to lay before a public meeting, to be held next Saturday evening.

Some of the settlers expressed a good deal of dissatisfaction at the absence of thmr member, Mr. Brandon. A report had been circulated that he and other gentlemen from Wellington intended to be present at the meeting. •