DEPUTATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5473, 11 October 1878, Page 3

DEPUTATION.

A deputation, consisting of the Hon. G. M. Waterhouse, Mr. Bunny, M. 11.11., and Messrs. Hastwell, E. J. Duncan, T. Kempton, R. Wnkeliu, P. Cotter, and W. Hutchison, waited upon the Minister for Public Works on September 20tb, with the object of urging upon the Government the necessity of constructing a branch line of railway to connect Greytown with the main trunk line at Woodside. Mr. Waterhouse said that the settlers of Greytown felt that as they had undergone the troubles of early settlement they should not he left out in the cold. If they had not the branch line asked for, viz, from Woodside to Greytown, they would be materially injured! Tliesettlers in the Valley were notlarga landed proprietors, but chiefly of the yeoman class. Mr. Waterhouse then presented a petition to Mr. Macandrew, in which it was represented—(l), That the town was the oldest settlement in the Wairarapa Valley, had a fixed and growing population, was situated on the main trunk line of road, and until recently was the sole centre of the carrying trade aud passenger traffic to and from the Wairarapa ; (2) that the main lino of railway now under construction passed within a distance of three miles from the township; (3) that the district would suffer materially it isolated as it would bo under the present railway proposals of the Government; (4) that when on several occasions the district had urged an alteration in the main liuo, bringing it to Greytown, which, in the opinion of qualified persons, would not have entailed any great additional cost, it had met with assurances from successive Ministries that its claims would be favorably, entertained ; and (5) that the connection of Greytown with the. railway would give a healthy stimulus to the district, and would offer inducements for the undertaking of a district line in the valuable tracts of adjacent country. Ho would not detain the Minister any longer; as he could add little to what was stated in the petition. No doubt some members of the deputation would have' something to say on the subject. Mr. Bunny said be had nothing to say beyond endorsing every word that was staled by Mr. Waterhouse. Ho thought the Ministers should place a sum on the Ustimates for the construction of the line. . He thought that if the railways had been made as provided by an Act passed fifteen years ago the main line would have passed Greytown. Mr. DcNCAN said that he had waited with deputations on several occasions. He remembered that when he waited on Mr. Ormond, the late Minister for Public Works, they wore told that before anything was done the Ministers would go up the country, visit the vicinity, and judge for themselves whether the branch line should be formed. He knew that the early settlers were of opinion that the proposed branch line was the more direct. Mr. Wakelin observed that the whole of the land was very level. Mr. Macandrew said that ho was sorry that he knew very little of the country about the district, but he believed the deputation had placed matters , before him very fairly. When, he first received intimation relative to the deputation waiting on him his first idea was to see whether the main line could not be taken close to the town. He had made inquiries and ascertained that the Ministry of the day had given the matter full consideration. Two or three surveys had been made, from which it appeared that if the line was made in this particular direction the Government then in office thought the expense of bridges would render it almost impossible. He quite coincided with the'views of, the deputation. He did not think there was any chance ■of diverging from the main line. He thought a sort of siding or small loop line was the only way of meeting the difficulty, which . lie promised would receive the earnest consideration of the Government. (Hear, hear.) At the same time be did not wish the deputation to run away with the idea that the Government would necessarily supply locomotive power. Hr. Bunny observed all the deputation required was the line ; the power would follow in due time.

Mr. Maoandrbw said a loop or small siding was the only way of getting over the difficulty, which he was disposed to entertain most favorably. Mr. Bunny theu hinted to the deputation that they should withdraw. Ministers were very busy, and had plenty to do.