WAIMATE GORGE RAILWAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2221, 30 April 1880, Page 2

WAIMATE GORGE RAILWAY.

A public meeting was held in flic Oddfellows’ Hall, Waimatc, on Wednesday evening, to urge upon the Government the necessity of pushing on with the Gorge railway, and providing mnrli for tii,.,'unemployed.

His Worship the Mayor took the chair, and briefly stated the object of the meeting. In the course of his remarks. lie referred to the quality and quantity of stone and coal in the neighborhood of the Waiho, and the necessity of providing work for the unemployed during the approaching winter. lie considered it would be advisable to prepare a petition and forward the same to Wellington, in order to strcuglitheu the hands of the Commissioners, who had expressed a very high opinion upon the quality of the mineral deposits. A letter was read from Mr John Studholmc, expressing regret at not being able to attend, as ho had been called to Wellington on important business. Mr G. 11. lu'ccmau said it must be patent to all that the present would be a severe winter for the working classes. The Waiho was a first-class agricultural aud pastoral district, but unless it was provided with a railway, those located there could not compete with the residents of other places, which possessed the ad vantage of railway communication. The Waiho stone was superior to the Oamaru stone, aud the coal was also good, but they required to be on fair terms of competition. A large amount of the taxes of colonists had been spent on immigration, and steps should be taken by developing the sources of employment to find work for the population that had been introduced to the colony, instead of starving them away to the Cape of Good Hope and other places where labor is obtainable. Mr Hayes said the question was a subject that ought to interest everybody. Laying aside the question of labor the propose! work was necessary for the progress of the district. It involved but a slight cost, as no tunnels were necessary, and it wouhl open up a vast tract of magnificent agricultural and pastoral land, Mr Gaitt remarked that by some it was thought that the Gorge Railway would only'’ do good to the squatters, but bo hold a different opinion. If properly carried out the work would be beneficial to every one, and he thought that the petition read by the Mayor should be signed by every resident of the district.

Mr Lees felt a difficulty in addressing the meeting, as it might be said lie was interested/ It was plain that work must ho provided for the unemployed, and the question was —Shall they get it hero, or be forced to go elsewhere ? He would recommend the signing of the petition, and that pressure be brought to bear upon the Government. Mr B. Brooke said he had been looking for work, but could not get it, and if he could not find work here he would leave the country altogether. Mr E. Hammond said that the colony at the present time had about twice as many working men it, as there was work for.

Mr Steward proposed the following resolutions which were seconded by Mr (Sellars and carried unanimously : “ That in the opinion of this meeting, in view of the approach of winter, and of the large number of working men now out ol: employment, and unable to obtain work, it is urgently desirable that respectful representations be made to the Government, urging the immediate opening of works in the district.”

“ That the extension of Hie Waimatc branch railway, through the Valley of the Waiho, is a work which would prove a reproductive one both directly and in-

directly, and would at the same time afford the employment now so urgently required.” “ That the unemployed of this district have a fair claim upon the Government for similar aid to that afforded to the unemployed of Camara, Dunedin, and elsewhere.” “ That the petition read to the meeting be adopted, and forwarded through the membci for the district, ivith a request that he will use his best endeavors to secure the carrying out of its prayer.” The petition M'as then signed by all present, and the meeting terminated with the usual vote of thanks to the chairman.