DEPUTATIONS.

Southland Times, Issue 1534, 6 February 1872, Page 2

DEPUTATIONS.

BAILWAYS, IMMIGRATION, &C. A deputation appointed by the Bailway Committee, consisting of Messrs W. Wood (Mayor of Invercargill), W. H. Calder, M.H.E., John Blacklock. and George Lumaden, M.P.C.'s, waited upon His Honor the Superintendent and the Minister of Public "Works on Saturday. Mr Wood explained that the Sail way Committee, by whom they were nominated, had been appointed at a public meeting of the inhabitants of Invereargill to watch over the interests of the district in regard to railway matters, as also the immigration part of the Public Works scheme. The first point to which, they asked attention was the Mataura railway. After a great deal of anxious consideration, the committee had resolved that their exertions should in the first instance be directed to the formation of that sectional part of the work from Jnvercargill to Woodlands. The state of the road, coupled with the amount of traffic, induced them to adopt that course. The New Zealand Meat Preserving Company's works, established at Woodlands, had caused the traffic to be much greater than it would otherwise have been. On the other hand, the road for winter traffic especially was in a frightful state. Last winter it was almost impassable, and as nothing of a permanent character had been done for it, it was very certain next winter it would be even worse. Unless an early start was made, the consequences to the traffic would be serious. The speaker also referred to the extension of the Winton line as a subject on which the deputation desired to be advised. Mr Eeeves — The decision Government has arrived at with regard to the construction of your railways has been already made public in the form of a telegram some little time ago. As a result that determination was arrived at i shortly after the close of last session. Up to the present time, nothing further has been done beyond going on carrying out the intention expressed in that telegram. The Mataura line is one of those which has been specially reserved for negotiations with Mr Brogden. The working surveys are now almost ready, in fact for all practical purposes I believe that they are ready, and Mr Brogden is expected shortly to visit Southland with the view of making some definite arrangement for proceeding with the work. If the Government find that arrangements cannot be completed with him, that the price he asks is not reasonable, then the work will be contracted for otherwise. With respect to the Kingston line, it is the intention of the Government to have it done by local contract, these contracts te be taken up in sectional parts. -A period of four years has been fixed for completing the whole. When you remember the number of railways that are to be commenced, as also the difficulty and delay attending the getting of material, you must see that under no circumstances could the line be made more expeditiously than in four years. Mr Wood — Then, sir, are we to understand that the working plans for the Winton line have been ordered to be gone on with so soon as those for the Mataura line are finished ? Mr Calder — What we want to know is, has Mr Brunton been authorised to prepare those plans ? Mr Eeeves — I understand so, but before stating definitely, it will be better that I should see Mr Brunton. I shall see him, and will be better able to answer the question before I go away on Monday. In reply to a question by Mr Wood, Mr Eeeves said that he fully understood the necessity for forming the line as far as Woodlands, adding — you may feel assured that it will be commenced as speedily as possible. Mr Maeandrew — We have already had an answer to that effect. I have already urged that this section should be gone on with at once. The position in which ife stands is that it is waiting for Mr Brogden. The case, Mr Eeevea, is really an urgent one. When you see the stats of the road as we go home on Monday, you will have ocular demonstration of the urgent necessity that exists for the work ; going on at once. Even now the road is anything but a passable one. Mr Wood — How soon is Mr Brogden likely to visit Southland ? [ Mr Maeandrew — Mr Brogden will be down here within a few weeks. Although the line be commenced at once, it is quite impossible that it could be of any use I against the ensuing winter. Still it will require to be commenced at once to make it available for the next season's traffic. Mr Eeeves — I will take care that your wishes are paid attention to. Assuming that the work is taken up by Mr Brogden, he will be requested to press ou this first section of the line. Mr Maeandrew — There can be no doubt about the payable character of the work. The Meat Preserving Company alone have guaranteed 8000 tons for the first year. Mr Blacklock — Yes, and then when the heavy traffic is taken off, the road will be quite good enough for the farmers and settlers' purposes. Mr Wood — When the railway is constructed there will be very little traffic for the road. Mr Maeandrew — I certainly under-

stand from correspondence on the subject that it was intended after the survey for the Mataura line had been completed the survey for the other line was to be gone on with by the same party. Mr Reeves repeated that he would make further inquiries on the subject, and would communicate with the deputation before leaving. Mr Calder said that there was another matter, closely connected with railway construction, he wished to bring under notice. An addition of 50 feet to the Bluff Harbor wharf would carry it out into deep water, which would enable the largest ships to moor alongside of it. This was a much more important part of the railway system, than they might be disposed to think. Little vessels came up to the Invercargill jetty and carried away the traffic. At least one-half of the produce of the district was carried away by this route, so that the railway lost the benefit of a very large proportion of the actual traffic. It was a most essential part of the railway system, the Bluff Harbor wharf, and the system would not be an efficient one until the defect was remedied. The additional 50 feet would not coat more than from £500 to £700, and it would be the means of enabling the largest sized vessels to come alongside and load. Mr Calder concluded by saying that it was a matter which required their serious attention. After some remarks about the probability of the Bluff line being taken into the hands of the General Government, Mr Macandrew said that it might safely be left to be argued in the General Assembly. Mr Calder — It is such a very small matter that it is hardly worth while leaving it over for the Assembly. The whole question does not involve more than £500 or £600. Mr Beeves — The best way will be for the province to hand over the line to the General Government, and then I will take upon myself to say that the thing will be attended to. Mr Macandrew — Make a present of it like? Mr Beeves — Yes, make a present of it. The gauge will require to be altered and various other costly things done before it can be rendered a part of the system. Mr Calder — There, that's just the way. Between the two stools we'll fall. Mr Macandrew was understood to say that as the matter stood it was a work for attention by the Provincial Government, but as they had no money there was no immediate prospect of it being done. He added — If you would not make euch an outcry when we attempt to raise money by selling the waste lands at 10s per acre, J^jisre would be more chance of these things being attended to. The subject was then dropped. Mr Wood — There is just one point more the Bailway Committee is desirious of bringing under your notice. It is in connection with immigration. Mr Macandrew — Before you go further, allow me to say that your letter containing resolutions passed by the committee, suggesting that the regulations should be published in the newspapers, was received. 1 sent it on to Mr Reeves, and I presume he will have something to say on the subject. Mr Eeeves — The Government intend advertising these regulations. You are probably aware that the regulations in reference to nominated immigrants are already published. The general system of immigration has not yet been decided upon, but when regulations on that subject had been framed, they would be given such publicity to as would enable everybody to understand them. What they were most interested in was the nominated immigration, and as these regulations had been decided upon they would in all probability be advertised. They were no doubt aware expense was involved in advertising. Mr Wood — Before withdrawing, I beg to convey a suggestion to you that was made by the committee. It is that you will, if you can at all make it convenient, ■visit the Wakatipu by way of Winton and Kingston. Mr Beeves — I quite admit the importance of the suggestion, but I am sorry that at present I cannot avail myself of it. I must proceed with His Honor on Monday to Dunedin. Between stormy weather and one thing and another I have been delayed longer than I intended. However it has been arranged that we should visit Winton this afternoon, from whence we will proceed as far inland as our time will permit. The deputation then withdrew. COBPOBATION AFFAIBS. A deputation, consisting of the Mayor (Mr Wood), and Councillors Lumsden, Garthwaite, Goodwillie, and Blackwood, had an interview with the Superintendent on Saturday. The vesting of the Invercargill Jetty in the Corporation was first discussed, and resulted in an arrangement being come to that a lease, practically speaking, interminable, would be granted. The necessity for metalling Tay Street as a main road was next discussed, and resulted in an assurance being given that the Superintendent would communicate with the Boad Engineer on the subject. The deputation next applied to have the public esplanade vested in the Corporation. During the discussion, it transpired that no Crown Grant had yet been issued for it, and on a representation that parties were in the habit of appropriating gravel from the esplanade, the Crown Lands Commissioner, Mr Pearson, who was also present, intimated that they were liable to be prosecuted. Addressing the deputation, His Honor said — You get it surveyed, and I will apply for the Crown Grant. You have got practical possession of it already. Matters affecting the Tay Street reserve, and the hauling of metal from, the Greenhills, were also spoken of, and satisfactory arrangements made. WXNTOIT TELEO-BAPH AKD BOADS. On Saturday, a deputation of residents at Winton waited upon His Honor the

Superintendent and the Minister of Public "Works to urge certain matters connected with the welfare of the district on their attention. The subject first spoken of was 1 * the opening up of a road over the New River in the direction of Heddon Bush and the Te Anau. Mr E. Cameron, who headed the deputation, pointed out that besides a large extent of agricultural country of a superior class that it would give access to, a vast amount of wool and other produce would be brought down to Winton en route for shipment at Invercargill and the Bluff. That it would in fact operate as an important feeder to the railway line. His Honor admitted the soundness of the argument, and explained that the subject had been already under notice of the Executive. Actinsc upon a representation made, that the settlers in the district would be prepared to subscribe a sum of £75, the j Executive had agreed to supplement it to i the extent of other £75 That amount would be made available so soon as they were in a position to go on with the work. The requirements of the district in respect to telegraphic communication were also mentioned. Mr Reeves said that had the railway line been in the hands of the General Government, instead of the Provincial, he had no doubt but that the matter would have been already attended to. He thought that if the latter would hand over the line to central control, that there was no doubt but that their views would be met with at once. In answer to a question, he was informed that the extension of the line from the Wallacetown junction involved a distance of 13 miles, and he promised to urge the point on the attention of the Government. He further suggested that the matter should be pointed out to their member, Mr L. M' GHllivray, so that it might not be lost sight of at the forthcoming session of Assembly. Mr Macandrew also gave the deputation to understand that their request would receive his best support. The extension of the wires — he said — was but a question of time. What the Government proposed to do was to carry it on from Invercargill to the Lake, so as to relieve the line via Dunedin and Tokomairiro as much as possible. The deputation then withdrew.