HOKONUI.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 8, 20 May 1893, Page 5

HOKONUI.

PROPOSED EXTENSION of OUR

RAILWAY,

In the first issue of the Southern Cross I expressed a wish that the new-comer might long help to guide the destinies of this district, in common with other parts of the country. My wish is apparently to be realised much sooner than expected, for your able leader of the 13th inst. in favour of the extension of the railway to Core cannot fail to have some effect. The prosecution of this important work would have- a great influence on the future of this district, and there can scarcely be a doubt that the necessary outlay would prove - highly . reproductive. —A well-attended public meeting was held here on the 10th inst.

to discuss the objects of a petition urging the extension, a copy of which was sent from the Hedgehope meeting. Mr J.McMaster (President of the Farmers’ Chib) was voted to the chair.—Mr Wm, Sims said he was surprised' that the Hedgehope should expect any support from this quarter after the way they had persistently thrown cold water on the Hokonui. railway in the past. The public were constantly being told' from that district, through the press, that the line was a white elephant, and yet they would like to see that animal’* trunk extended to themselves. —Mr A. Maepherson said he was not at all surprised at the former attitude of the Hedgehope residents, because the same inconsistency in a lesser de--gree was manifest nearer home. What Mr Sims said was quite true. On one occasion a. petition to Parliament to have the Forest Hill Tramway (as it was then known) converted into a railway was sent to Hedgehope for signatures. The canvasser came across a batch of the settlers at a threshing mill, and congratulated himself on striking a patch, But when his mission became known their attitude soon undeceived him. He prudently beat a retreat and when at a safe distance delivered a parting shot to the effect that when the Hedgehope people wanted the railway extended to their, district should they come to Hokonui for assistance it would be gladly given. He (the speaker) was not sure in what; spirit the advice was given, but he was glad that it had been acted upon, and he was pleased, that they had the present opportunity of supporting their Hedgehope neighbours while a t the same time working for their own interests. It was not such a long time since the majority of the Hokonui settlers as well as the Hedgehopeites deprecated the old tramway, proposing that it should be pulled up and made into a road. He, however, always stuck to the line, advocating its reconstruction rather than its destruction, and the very large traffic which the line now carried proved that he was right. He believed if the line were extended it would become one of the best paying in the colony. There was a vast amount of virgin forest along the route, and that with the coalfields and agricultural produce would create a heavy traffic both ways. He moved, “ That .the meeting strongly support the object of the petition.” —After several had spokeu in favour of the extension, the motion was seconded, and carried unanimously, Mr Simp explaining that though he wished to have a dig at Hedgehope he was not opposed to the extension. —A copy of the resolution was forwarded to the Hedgehope committee for presentation to the proper quarter, and a vote of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting.