Local Works

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 7, 13 May 1893, Page 7

Local Works

EXTENSION of the HOKONUI RAILWAY. A meeting to further the movement which has been on foot for some time to secure the extension of the Hokonui railway was held in the Hcdgehope schoolhouse on Saturday evening, 6th inst- Over thirty settlers, forming a thoroughly representative gathering, were in attendance, and a good deal of earnestness was evinced in the business before the meeting. Mr George Uomm«. who was voted to the chair, having referred in feeling terms to the loss which the colony had sustained in the death of a statesman of the calibre of the late Mr Eallance, said that all present were aware of the history of what was until recently known as the Forest Hill tramway. As it now stood, with its terminus on private property, the settlers of the Hcdgehope district were debarred from making auy use of it, and would be until the line was brought across the Makarcwa and extended to the eastward. As far as he could learn, the people from Winton to Gore were in favour of the extension, and meetings to consider the question were to be held at Springhills and Hokonui, and action in support would be taken at Winton, Gore, and Waimumu. The chairman concluded by reading a petition (the text of which we published last week) in favour of extending the line till it connected with the eastern railway at or near Gore.

Mr Miller confirmed the chairman’s remarks as to the uselessness of the line to the Hedgehope settlers if it remained at its present terminus. Repeated attempts had been made to get the lino carried over the Makarewa, but they had hitherto been defeated through some means or other. He thought it was a very good idea to try to get the line extended to Gore. Hot a few of the farmers in the Hedgehope district had lived there for many years, and it was time that they had a share of the benefits arising from railway facilities. Mr A. McKay said that from the time the railway was mooted, they were told that it would be carried in the first instance into the Hedgehope district. The failure to carry it further than the present terminus was a serious hardship to the pioneer settlers of the place—the men who had come there when young, who had reared up families, and who, if better facilities were not given for getting their produce to market, would probably have to shift elsewhere. The justice of their claim to have the line extended was admitted, and promises had been made, but somehow or another nothing had come of all their agitation. There was no other part of Southland with such an area of good land in the same position-as the Hedgehope district with respect to railway communication. The tantalising part of the business was that while the Hokonui line was only some three miles or so away, it was utterly useless to the settlers on this side of the Makarewa, some of whom had to travel sixteen miles to Woodlands—and others more —with their produce. Mr William Halliday also dwelt upon the necessity of the extension and the benefit that it would confer on the settlers, who were at present heavily handicapped. Now was a favourable time to again move in the matter, seeing that the Government had a surplus, and that the estimates for works would be taken in had shortly, in view of the meeting of Parliament. He thought an effort should be made to get the line carried at least six miles beyond the present terminus.

Mr Andrew McDonald remarked that he had great hopes, now that Wmton, Gore, and other parts of the district were co-operating with them, that the railway would be extended as desired. Reference had been made to the labour and expense incurred in getting their produce and stock to the surrounding markets, but in addition to that they laboured under a serious disability in another respect —they ■were unable, except at a great sacrifice of time and money, to obtain tiles for drainage, fertilisers for their crops, and many other articles essential to securing the best resultt from farming. With a railway, all these drawbacks would bo removed, and they would be no longer hampered in their operations. Is would also lead to the development of the resources of the district in the shape of timber and coal. There was a great quantity of fine timber along the Hokonui ranges, and there was every 'reason to believe that coal areas would also be found. He had heard that excellent coal had been found on Mrs Kidd’s property, and if boring wore tried in their own immediate neighbourhood, valuable discoveries might be made along the valley of the Hedgehope. He felt almost certain that coal existed there, the configuration of the country closely resembling that of the coal mining district (Clackmannan) in which he had lived in Scotland. In conclusion Mr McDonald suggested the appointment of a deputation to wait on the Hon J. G. Ward, Colonial Treasurer, to urge the claims of the district to the extension. In the course of further discussion reference was made to the fact that the Hokonui railway had been leased to a company for a term of years, but the opinion was expressed that this need not interfere with the proposed extension. The chairman mentioned that the Hon. J. G. Ward had told him some time ago that it would probably he of very little use for a few of them to petition for a merely local extension, and that success would more likely he attained if the people of the district as a whole, from Winton to Gore, took the matter up and joined with the Hedgehope

settlers. In reply to a question Mr Ward expressed his willingness to take charge of the petition, and suggested that copies of it should bo sent to the other Southland representatives. On the motion of Mr Halliday, seconded by Air McDonald, the petition already referred to was unanimously adopted, and was subsequently signed by those present. Mr A. McKay moved, That a committee consisting of Messrs McDonald, Miller, Halliday, German, Young, Yorke, and the mover be appointed to promote the extension of the line. The motion was carried, and it was also agreed that Messrs Miller, McKay, Halliday, and Gorman form a deputation to wait on the Hon. J. G. Ward during his visit to Invercargill. It was further resolved that a deputation should wait on the Hon. G. F. Richardson either at Gore or Invercargill. The chairman undertook to attend the meetings to he held at Springhills and Hokonui, and Air AlcDonald promised to write to Gore and Waimumu. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman, and to the representative of the Southern Cross. [The Colonial Treasurer will receive the deputation at 10 a.m. to-day.]