THE RAILWAY QUESTION.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 106, 15 April 1884, Page 2

THE RAILWAY QUESTION.

WARM DISCUSSION. The following letter was read at the County Council on Thursday last Sir,—l have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 25th ult. re proposed railway construction. The matter of a line through the streets of the Borough was fully discussed at a meeting of the Council held last evening, when the following resolutions were passed:—“ That even presuming that a special Act be passed, authorising a steam railway to go through the streets of the town, that this Council would oppose such railway going along Gladstone Road, or any other public Road within the Borough, except the main south road.” “ That this Council is willing to allow the construction of a tramway along Gladstone Road, providing the motive power be not steam.” I have also to inform you that within the limits of the above resolutions you may depend upon the hearty co-operation of this Council in carrying out a work which it is considered would be of benefit to both town and country.—l have, &c., J. Bourke, Town Clerk. The Chairman said, after the last meeting of the Council he wrote a letter to the Mayor on the question of bringing the railway through the town, so that the matter could be brought before the Borough Council. When doing so, he informed the Mayor that they were willing to bring the line to Childers Street, and if that would not do they would alter the line. He thought it was a mistake to take the rail down Gladstone Road, as it would ruin the town. There were other routes they could bring the line down by. One was along the Taruheru stream, along the bank, or down the Waikanae stream, or else to cross the Waikanae stream and come down to the point opposite Read’s old buildings. They had to look on this as a little more than an ordinary railway, as it must be made use of for every one, and therefore they must have the most suitable route. As at present the town was only a depot, the country supported the town. It was quite beside the question to talk about carrying passengers. He would ask the Council to again write to the Borough Council, or suggested that a conference between both Councils should be held to discuss the question. He thought that the carrying out of that suggestion was about the best they could do. Cr. Gannon said he was not present at the last meeting, and therefore he must be excused if he was not so well posted up in question as the other members. He must say that it was the duty of the local bodies to do all they could to further the interest of the place, as the district really required it. This was a step in which the Councils might go beyond their powers. Now supposing the Borough Council agreed to have a line through the town, how was their decision to have any effect on the carrying out of the same. For instance, for themselves they were near a new election, perhaps they would have to go out then (next Nov.), therefore, in his opinion, all they could do was to agitate and advocate, they could go no further. The Council had all along done this, and he thought in such matters where railways were concerned, that it would be far better for them to agitate outside, and get outside opinion. Everything in this shape, if they could get them, were luxuries, but luxuries had to be paid for. He might be wrong, but he considered this important question deserved to be discussed in public. The Chairman said Cr. Gannon was wrong. Cr. Gannon said the public had to pay for the railway, and they should be considered. The Chairman replied the companies would pay for them. Cr. Gannon asked who the company would get the money from. The Chairman replied they had gone so far as to pay one per cent, on the interest of the money. Cr. Gannon said thev had not got the ratepayers consent to do it. The outside public should certainly have been interviewed before any steps were taken in the matter. The Chairman said they had offered to companies to build a Railway, and the question which now remained was whether they were to confer with the Borough Council or not. He thought the Borough Council had taken a proper view of the matter. The contention was this, that the Council were not pledged in the matter. Cr. Gannon said they committed themselves by pledging to build a railway without the consent of the ratepayers. The Chairman said it was certain the Government would never build a railway here. He proposed “ That a Conference be held, the Borough Council to name the day.” Cr. Gannon said that he was not opposing anything. With regard to the Conference, supposing both Councils agree to have the railway, and the ratepayers do not, what then ? They certainly are the ones who have to pay for it, and the biggest inducement they can have, will be of getting metal. This was a question which went beyond the ordinary question of roads and bridges. The matter should, most decidedly, be placed before the outside public. The Chairman said it had been before the public for the last nine months. Cr. Gannon asked when this notice of motion was given. The Chairman replied that it had been only actually discussed a short time ago, but it had been before the Council for the last six months.

Cr. Gannon said the motion was then brought on out of order. There had not before been a fair opportunity in the Council to discuss it. He would leave it to the Chairman. The Government had neglected the place right and left; but it was good that the place had got such energetic men to get its requirements. With regard to bringing the railway down the town, steam power should not be used in the streets. It had been tried in other places such as a Dunedin and Sydney, and was now being done away with. It did more harm than good. Cr. Westrup asked how much further forward would matters be if a public meeting did discuss the subject, unless the whole of the settlers were asked to give their vote ? If a meeting was held he thought they would be no further forward than before. Cr. Gannon did not say they would be any further forward, but he should like to know the public opinion on the mattpr. Had they the outside opinion ? If the question would not bear discussion, then it must be a rotten concern. Cr. Clarke seconded the Chairman’s motion. Cr. Johnston said it was well known that the country could do better without the town, than the town could without the country. The country had always taken the initiatory steps in trying to obtain communication between the town and country. The Chairman had taken these initiatory steps two or three times. The Borough Council had looked on the matter with a selfish view. He thought the letter did not mean what the Council really meant. They meant to say that they would have the line down Gladstone Road and not down Childer’sßoad, if not, then they were very narrow minded. Then, he said, this letter did not represent their meaning. The question amongst them was, whether the line shall be past my door or past your door. He would support the

Chairman’s motion, and he believed the ratepayers would agree with it, though the matter should be explained to them. It would not be much good going to the ratepayer’s now, as it had been befol e them all along. They had always returned members to the Council who had this idea of getting a railway it they could manage it. It would be a pity to go to the county, and would be only making capital out of it, and like going to them with some party cry. He was certain all were in favor of it, except the coast settlers; they were against it. Going to the ratepayers would be causing unnecessary expenditure. He approved of the Chairman’s motion of holding a conference. If it (the conference) ended favorably it was neither here nor there. They had tried to benefit the country generally by doing it. They had done their best, and they (the ratepayers) must bear the loss. If the companies go in for this, then they may take it a different route, which they (the Council) would hape to abide by. Cr. Gannon may laugh at it, but it is correct. Cr. Gannon said a letter had been received from Mr. Ritso with regard to this railway, and he thought it Should be read. The Chairman said the letter was not to be opened until May 10th. It had nothing to do with this question, Cr. Gannon said he insisted on the letter being read. It ought to be read. It apper> tnlned to this question, and was public property, being addressed to the Council, It looked as if it was held back on purpose. Cr. Johnson objected to the letter being read. Cr. Gannon moved, as an amendment, “ That the letter be read.” They should have no hole and corner matters here, as thev were dealing with public matters, and all information on this matter should be produced, and the Chairman had acted unwisely in keeping back the letter, for it looked bad. The Chairman called Cr. Gannon to order as it (the letter) had nothing to do with the matter under discussion, they were discussing the letter from the Borough Council. Cr. Gannon asked what right had the Chairman to withhold the letter. He again insisted that the letter be read. Cr. Johnson objected to Cr. Gannon addressing the Chairman in the mai nei’ he did, it was not right, and he had no right to demand the letter in the way he did. The Chairman said he was there to conduct the Council. Cr. Gannon said he only asked for the correspondence on public matters to be read. The Chairman said the letter should not be read until the 10th of May. Cr. Gannon said then the Chairman refuses to read the correspondence, and the Council agree to it. Cr. Westrujp agreed with the Chairman, and said Cr. Gannon’s language was too insulting. Cr. Clarke concurred. Cr. Gannon again asked why the letter should not be read. The Chairman said because it was not under discussion, and he was going beyond the question. (Much disorder.) He refused to go beyond the letter under discussion. He wanted to know if there was any amendment to his motion. There being no amendment, the motion was carried. The Chairman said he would now read the letter if Cr. Gannon liked. Cr. Gannon said the Chairman first got his motion carried and then offered to read the letter. What he wanted was the letter to be discussed with the motion. The Chairman said Cr. Gannon was out of order. The Chairman said he was sorry that the Councillors could not agree, and explained that the letter from Mr. Ritso had nothing to do with the question then under discussion, and it was out of order to read it. Cr. Gannon said the impression it gave by keeping the letter back was that there was something at the back of it, as it was kept back doggedly. Cr. Johnston said the letter should be now read. He still supported the Chairman, for it was out of order. Cr. Gannon said when the motion of the Chairman was before the Council he asked it to be read. His remarks would have been to connect the two. He was sure this was not the time for reading it, for it would now be out of order. After further remarks the Chairman read the letter as follows :— Sir, —Having seen a proposal for a district railway in your county, I would be obliged if you would kindly send a tracing or map of the proposed line, and a rough estimate of the cash per mile—(say in thousands), to me, and I will forward it to my friends in London with the view of inducing them to get the capital provided. I may state that my friends have just sent out a guarantee for £150,000 for a railway in the South Island, and have also agreed to provide the £85,000 for Vesey Stewart extention to Opotiki, if the land can be obtained. I have no time to add more but remain.—Yours truly, Geo. y. Ritso, Northern Club, Auckland. Cr. Johnston proposed, and Cr. Clarke seconded, “ That the necessary information be forwarded to Mr. Ritso.”—Carried.