RAILWAY MATTERS.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1038, 23 May 1883, Page 2

RAILWAY MATTERS.

PUBLIC MEETING AT THE HARMONIC HALL. About seventy gentlemen attended the public meeting in the Harmonic Hall last evening, to urge upon the Government the necessity for pushing on the Railway works with expedition. Upon the motion of Mr W Williams, His Worship the Mayor was voted to the Chair, The-Chairman said the meeting had been called to consider the railway line between Manutahi and Hawera. There could be no two opinions as to the desirability of the completion of the Hue and its commercial value to the district as a whole,- and to the Port of Patea. He asked the meeting not to consider the question from a storekeeper’s point of view, but from a broad basis, and that the Government should be allowed to carry it on from whatever end they deemed advisable. Mr W Williams said that the matter they were about to agitate was one of considerable importance to the district. All were anxious to see the place progressing and to get a railway to another part of the Colony. He would move the following resolution That this meeting would respectfully urge the Government to complete the railway line from Mokoia to Hawera at the same time as the Manawapou contract is being done ; so that the line may be completed and opened when the present contract is finished.” He felt some diffidence in moving that resolution, as lie had not taken part in public matters for some time, and there were others likely to do it better than he could. There were others in that meeting better able to address them and likely to do a great deal more good. He could not help thinking, that although a portion of a railway was a good thing, a whole one was better. Their great object was the opening up of the country for traffic and settlement. They noticed what had been done in the South by means of the railway. Farmers were able to grow produce and send it to market, but. they could not do that here for want of a railway, and the place was at a stand-still. In Canterbury the people did not let things take their own course, but helped themselves. Look at the Lyttelton tunnel ; he had no hesitation in saying, that but for that tunnel Canterbury would not be what it now is. It would bo the same here if they could get a railway to open up the land. They had araagnificent country, and the line would bring food for the harbour, money to the place, and labour to those that desired it. The Government should be urged to complete the line at the quickest rate. He did not think that Government had treated them well in the past. All they seemed to care for was to open up the Plains and take the traffic into New Plymouth. The Government were not so much to blame as the people, because if they had urged the matter consistently Government would not have left this little gap.

Mr J. Gibson seconded the motion. He would ask the gentlemen present to look back a number of years to the commencement of the formation of the railway from Wanganui to Kai'lwi. The time was so far back that he had not been able to get the precise date, but it was 11 or 12 years ago since the line was commenced. Since then it had proceeded in a most leisurely manner, and was now completed to Waverley, a distance of 30 miles in 12 years. Patea people had been looking fonvard-Jo the railwa3 r and had been fed with promises that the line should be completed, and had waited patiently without pressing upon the Government. Some people said that the line would be finished quite as quickly without this meeting but he did not think so as it was necessary to bring pressure upon the Government. There was no reason why the line should not be made from Hawera to Manawapou while

the present contract was going on, so that the encis should meet without delay. There were other matters in which settlers were concerned, such as the road side stations. The public understood that the line would be shortly opened to Manutahi, but the station was opposite Mr Parson’s farm, and that was some distance from the township. The road was in an impassable state, and be thought the Road Board had not been looking after settlers interests in not providing the means of access to the station. No doubt a station was also wanted near the Waverley racecourse, and these matters should be considered by settlers. \ Mr G. D. Hamerton said that he was a frequent visitor to Hawera, and he could not help remarking that the settlers there seemed to take more interest in public matters than they did here. He thought this railway question was one in which settlers were concerned, and the}' ought to have been here. He did not look upon this question as a local one. It was a matter of 7 miles of railway out of a total of ;140, and that was a public matter. This line was the highway from Wellington to Auckland, and they should urge the Government to complete the work. When done it would affect Patea to some extent. They would get a share of the shipping trade of Hawera, and possibly Normanb3 T , and southwards to Waitotara, besides which there would be a line of 191 miles without a break. At present the highway was stopped for the sake of a few thousands, and he contended that the revenue would he so much benefited when the line was completed that Government should finish it. He would port the resolution on public apart from local grounds. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously amid applause. Mr Haraerton moved, “ That a copy of the resolution just passed be forwarded to the Minister for Public Works and to the member for the district.” Mr R. Horner seconded the motion. He confessed that he had completely lost faith in the Government in many ways. From his position of chairman of the County Council lie was in a position to say that he had lost faith in the Minister for Public Works and in the member for the district. (Cheers.) Promise after promise had been made and consistently broken. In August last there was a promise of pecuniary assistance for the road, in consequence of damage to the road through the railway construction. That promise had been set aside, not forgotten, but simply ignored. The Government promised them £IOOO, and he telegraphed to know when they might expect the money. The Public Works Department wrote back that they could find no special grant for Patea, and that the Taranaki Roads and Bridges grant had all been absorbed, and, no doubt, the money went to Taranaki. Presently Government ordered their surveyor to spend £SOO on the worst places of the road. In his opinion it was all worst—no better, and just now it was impossible to put stone upon the Manawapou with good results. People said that the bad state of the road was the fault of the County Council, but he wished to impress the fact that they had no funds, except the rales taken out of the settler’s pockets. Their licenses had been taken, the land fund had been taken, and the subsidies had been withdrawn, and, like Pharaoh’s workmen, they were asked to make bricks without straw. Now Government give a driblet and money promised had never come. He had lost faith in their member who might have shown them some consideration. At one time they used to get their share of public money, but now it stopped in Wellington or els® went on to Taranaki. He would like to see a memorial accompanying the resolution signed by the people in the district, £ird a good strong one 100, so that the Government should not look over it. His friend Mr Hamerton suggested that it should be sent to the House. Well, he thought that the House was not cognisant of all that went on. The Government had a purse with two strings which pulled both ways, and it was often a case of those who came first got most. Mr Hudson said that Mr Hamerton seemed surprised at not seeing the settlers here, and that Hawera settlers seemed to take,greater interest in public affairs. He (Mr Hudson) was persuaded that settlers in this district were just that disgusted, so to speak, with the Government and the officials, that they thought whatever they might say or do would be almost useless. At a meeting of this kind resolutions were passed and the authorities looked at them, thought no more and cared no more about them. Settlers thought that whatever they said or did would not alter it, and had* come to the conclusion that whatever the Government think they will do, they do, and if they think, they won’t, they don’t, and there is an end to it.

Mr Sherwood cordially agreed with the wording of the first part of the motion, but could not agree with the latter as to forwarding the resolution to the member for the district. They had first been told that the line would be .finished in three years, and then after waiting it got to five years. They petitioned year after year with no practical result. A. memorial was then got up and sent to (heir member, and as it was thought that there might be some feeling if he (Mr Sherwood) sent it, Mr Aitchisnl was appointed to forward it. The memorial set forth three things ; first that the country should be opened up, second that the Harbour required assistance, and third that the railway should be pushed on to completion. They took a great deal of time and trouble over the memorial ; it was engrossed in the usual form of such documents, and a printed copy was sent to the Government and the member for (he district. When Major Atkinson addressed his constituents hero he was asked what had been done with the petition, and his answer was, “ Well I don’t know ; these things are of little importance, and are generally handed to the Secretary.” And yet they proposed to forward the resolution Just passed. Not long ago a wellattended meeting was held, and a resolution passed requesting Major Atkinson to address his constituents here.. He, as Chairman, communicated with the member for the district, and received a telegram that he was taking a few days rest in Taranaki, and on his return to Wellington he would communicate again. After some time, he (speaker) went to Wellington ; and the very day he got there a letter was posted to Patea, and as he was away for a month, he did not get it until his return. Major Atkinson had not addressed hie constituents ; he had been stumping the country with a bogus scheme, and would not come here to address them. He felt that to forward that resolution to the Major would simply be useless. They should forward it to the Chamber of Commerce, or to any member of the House. Let them put a stop to. the deliberate insults they had received. They were told that their business was of flimsy importance, and entrusted to a Secretary ; and if they put up with being snubbed iu this fashion, they deserved all they got. The past system had failed utterly, and they should now

show that they were npt going to stand beiog snubbed any longer ; show that they had tried their member but would now go somewhere else. For five years they had petitioned the Government to commence the line simultaneously on both sides of the Patea' river. They went to a lot of trouble, had an enthusiastic meeting, and got up a petition to the member for the district, and heard nothing more of it. When he came here he told his hearers from the stage—“ I have actually been asked to commence the railway on both sides of tlie river, but I laughed at it.” He did not know then that he was addressing the very people who sent the petition. They ought now to enter a protest at the snails pace the line was creeping along the Coast. No other community would put up with such miserable delays. No one visited Patea, and why was it ? The Governor visited smaller places than this, and he thought the Governor was, if not ruled, largely guided by the advice of his ministers as to the places to visit. The Governor was a practical man, and a visit from him might do good for the harbour. Why then did not their member ask him to visit Patea. Another thing was that they should insist that the Minister for Public Works should come here. The member for the district dangled this railway in front of them like a bunch of carrots, but if the railway were completed, the carrots wou’d fall to the ground. He was glad to see that the scales were beginning to fall from the eyes of the district. ‘ They had testimony that their member did not pay attention to the wants of the district, and he was glad to see that the Chairman of the County Council was convinced of it. As to the advisableness of completing the line, there could be no two opinions. Sir John Hall said that the necessity for completing the link was so obvious that no Government could refuse to carry it out. A deputation from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce waited on the Government the other day about this Hue, and the Ministers’ reply was in effect that the}* had done better than any other Government had done in New Zealand. If anybody did.the Coast any good it was Jamas Macandrew, a member of tire much maligned Grey Government, and he was fully satisfied that if he hid remained in office the line would have been long ago. As he said before they insist upon a visit from the Minister for Public Woiks. He had never paid an official visit, and it was time he did. Property would be enhanced, and the whole Coast would be pushed ahead by the completion of the lino and there was noting to prevent that being done. Government had an enormous staff in the. Public Works Department and he asked his hearers if they were building a house and had to employ an architect and skilled hands, would (hey complete one , room and wait a year before doing another and keep the staff all the time ? No, they would finish it as quickly as possible and get rid of the staff, and that is what Government should do with the Hue. The money had been voted over and over again and allowed to lapse. He objected very strongly to communicate with the member for the district at all until the member had been here and told them what he had done and what he was.going to do. The Mayor was about to put the resolution, when Mr Sherwood said he would move an amendment. He moved, “ That a copy of the resolution-just passed, be forwarded to the Minister for Public Works, and that he be requested to visit the district." Mr Williams had great pleasure in seconding that. They ought to have si face to face policy not only with the Minister for Public Works but with th.ir own member. It was suggested that the resolution should be withdrawn, but Mr Haraerton said he would not consent to that upon a matter of policy. Their member was a member of the Cabinet, and if they went against him they would hays the whole Government against them. He should be glad to support a motion asking the Minister for Public Works to visit them, and he could not help thinking that if representations had been made in a proper spirit lie would have been here long ago. A meeting was held some time ago in St. James’ Hall, and me resolutions arrived at were worded in, such a way as to injure Major Atkinson in the eyes of voters here. If we insulted Major Atkinson, as a member of the Cabinet, we insulted the whole Cabinet. and the result would be that lhey~limgTitr r have to eat humble pie, but after that was better than nothing. Mr Sherwood—You may get too much Of it- ; .. - Mr Gibson thought it‘would be better to carry the. first resolution and Mr Sherwood’s ' afterwards. Major Atkinson would be up in a few days to address his constituents, and that would be the proper opportunity to question him. With Mr Sherwood’s speech he mainly agreed, but it was a matter of policy to carry, the resolution unanimously. - *.i 3; Mr Sherwood objected to communicating with the member for the district. As regards what Mr Hamerton said about offending the Cabinet because they did not communicate with a certain member of the Cabinet, all he could say wes that if they took offence at that they were a poor Jot of men indeed. His objection to their member was that he had systematically ignored everything that had been sent before. The Maj r or ruled the amendment out of order, and put the resolution which was lost almost unanimously. Mr Sherwood’S motion was then put and.carried unanimously amidst loud applause. Mr R A Adams said he had a question to bring forward, vis., the continuation of the line to Auckland-. The line from New Plymouth to Waikato would be through rough country, and if it left Wanganui it. would not be much use to Patea. He was given to understand that a much better route than either of these could be found from Stratford, and he thought a committee should be formed to watch over the matter.' The line inland from Stratford would open up much good country, while the Wanganui line would open up a lot of poor land, and would be of much greater length, and require more money to complete. He would move, “ That a- committee of five be formed, to watch the matter - of the; Auckland Railway Route between Wellington and Auckland in the interest of c Patea and Hawera districts.’’ - Mr Williams seconded. He had been through a good deal of the country, and, he had questioned the natives particularly concerning the land between Stratford and the head of the Mokau. The natives said that the land was good, and easily travelled. There was only one hill, and that would have to be tunnelled, but with that exception the country was almost level, and it.was a shorter route than any other to the Waikato. He heard that Government had sent a party to examine the route, and he had. every confidence that the line would go in that direction, although pressure was being brought on Government to take the line almost any other way than along the coast. lie believed that if it came from the Waikato to Stratford it would open up a larger

quantity, and better land than any other way. He had some confidence in Taranaki looking after itself. So long as they had three members in the House they would be a power, and would prevent the line going fro.ti Rangitikei or Wanganui, notwithstanding all the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr Gibson said that the country improved towards Hawera, and there was a chance of a much better line somewhere between Hawera and Patea than if they went further north. Mr Williams considered that the Stratford route was the best. Mr Sherwood did not put much faith in Government surveys. In 1875 an attempt to survey that route had been made by the Provincial Government ; a party was equipped and after travelling a fortnight they sent in a report in which it was stated that they thought they were coming down the Waikato valley when all at once they came out on the sea coast near Pukehau, He asked if a bushman would do such a thing and then send in a lithographic plan of the route. He knew something about Taupo. It might be good land, but he had travelled it thoroughly and never, discovered it. It was unoccupied and, likely to be unless some great genius could discover some means to utilise pumice stone. As a general principle, he approved of a line through the middle of the Island but only if the country was suitable, which in this case it was not. The line should be made along the Coast. A slight discussion ensued as to the composition of the committee, and ultimately the following gentlemen were appointed : The Mayor, Messrs Sherwood, Williams, Gibson, and Adams. It was resolved to ask the Mayor of Hawera and the Chairman of the Hawera County Council to appoint five gentlemen to cooperate with the Patea committee. * On the motion of Mr Sherwood, the Mayor was asked to forward the resolution passed by the meeting, and Mr Sherwood was about to move a vote of thanks to His Worship for presiding when The Mayor said that Mr Gibson had handed him a telegram to read to the meeting. It was as follows : “ Find from Public Works Department that some proposition lias been made to give Boiling JMwn Company some part of Railway for land taken for railway purposes on same condition as present tenancy, but Have not yet got particulars. —H. A. Atkinson.” Mr Gibson explained that it was reported about town that the Boiling-down Company Had received a grant or part of the pilot reserve, and the Harbour Board for the purpose of eliciting the truth, had instructed him to telegraph to Major Atkinson, and that telegram was the reply. Mr Sherwood remarked that the telegram said “ Railway reserve,” but it must mean Pilot reserve. Part of that bad been spirited away before, and would probably be again. After a few further remarks it was understood that the matter would be left to the Harbour Board to deal with. A vote of thanks having been passed to the Chairman, the meeting separated.