THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 98, 25 April 1912, Page 3

THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

OPT’XAKE LEA CITE !'AVOFRS OLD SURVEYED ROUTE. Al)ont forty persons attended the .Railway Longue mooting in the Town Hall, Opmiake, yesterday. The chairman stated that the Commission had been appointed and they wore likely to take evidence any day. The league had asked for fourteen days’ notice regarding the taking of local evidence. He took it that they would discuss the routes and decide on one and then appoint delegates. A conference of delegates was at present being held at which Eltham, Awatuna, Kaponga. /ruroa, Normanhy, Hawera and other places wore represented. An invitation was sent to the Op Lina, ko League, hut as th.e conference was held before this meeting there was no time to appoint a delegate. However, he did not'Think there would be any unanimity on the question of route at the conference. He was, of opinion that -the Commission would settle the route once for all. The secretary read an apology from Mr Burgess as lie had to attend another meeting. Also from Auroa Railway League, inciting Opunake to send a delegate to the conference. A map showing the'old surveyed route and the To Roti route was interestingly inspected. The To Roti route diverged about three miles nearer the coast than the reserved route, and the former about four miles the shortest route.

The chairman said Messrs Guy and Mills (of the Kaponga Town Board) had interviewed him and had advocated the Stratford route. Ho had informed them he could not advocate the Stratford *" route. Personally, he favoured the route for two reasons: first, it was £50,000 cheaper to construct than the Stratford route, secondly, at an expenditure of £25,000 a year it would take two years longer to construct. Mr Conaglen moved, that this meeting adopt the Te Roti route. - Ho did so because it was the shortest, the quickest and cheapest to construct' and supplied the needs of the district best. Mr Moore expressed the opinion that if the railway passed a mile or so from a town it was neither here nor there, as the tendency is for the towns to extend towards the railway line. Mr Lamhie, in seconding Mr Conaglcn’s motion, spoke from the point of view that the railway was primarily for the purpose of assisting the producers and would not affect the towns so much in development as the country. Personally, he was not affected either way, but thought the Te Roti route the most favourable for the producers. Mr Hurst urged that the meeting should favour the old surveyed route. It was the line of least resistance. There was also the moral point: that of settlers taking up land on the promise that the railway should be constructed, and when a moral point is involved we should stick by it. If we back up the reserved route we have the best chance of success. The two chains of reserve were not surveyed for nothing. He moved as an amendment, that this meeting support the old reserved route—Opunake to Sit ham. He replied to the speakers who favoured the .Te Roti route, by stating the open land produced their maximum value (except that the farms wore cut up into smaller areas), whilst the reserved route was at its minimum in production. The surveyed route would add a larger production in the future, than the present open lands. ‘ Seconded by Mr O’Rorke. Mr Macßeynolds stated that if the meeting had been unanimous ho would not propose an amendment. How can you, he asked, expect the Government officials to decide the question whilst wo ourselves are unable to be unanimous P He moved that the question of route be left in abeyance. The chairman asked: How would the delegates reply if the Commission asked, “Are you in favour of any route?” Mr Macßeynolds: They would be very slow people if they could not find out, a few minutes after the dele- - gates commenced to give evidence. Suggestions were then made that the proposers and seconders include both routes in one motion, as it would be a pity to cause a split on the question. Mr Conaglen was prepared to include both routes in his resolution. But from a fair point of view the Jc Roti route was giving all parties a fair deal, as the route was as near the centre of tiic district as possible—taking the admeasurements ns be twee# the mountain reserve and the sea coast, while the sale of the two chains wide of the old route would be amph to pay for the chain wide required for the Te Roti route. Mr Jackson stated the files of the House did not show any promise bad been indicated. Assuming there was I a promise to the settlers who took up 1 land the moral involved hud been ro- | paid by the owners continuing the lease at original rentals. ! Mr Lambic war. favourable to a compromise on the question of route. He pointed out the value of the district immediately served by the Te Roti route and the monetary value gained by the construction of the. To Roti route. Mr O’Rorke asked why not favour the old route, the matter of a few thousands is immaterial to Government construction. The chairman said : t would lake two vpars longer to build than the To Roti route. Mr Hurst did not feel inclined to give way. lie saw difficulties in the way of doing so, and believed any ot!i- ---! er advocacy but that, of the old route | would weaken their chance of sue-

I cess. He pointed out that the leagm had always advocated the old route and did not know the reason why tin chairman should now favour the Te Roti route. Mr Rogers said that when the league was formed there was only the one route to advocate. They did not favour either the Stratford route or that of Hawera. If this meeting did not decide mi the To Roti route lie counselled unanimity on the old' reserved rente. Mr Guy favoured sticking to the old route as near as possible, hut believed the line would ultimately junction at Stratford. Mr Macßeynolds’ amendment was seconded hy Mr Duffy. The chairman put the amendments and'motion with the'following result; Mr Macßeynolds’ amendment: “That no route he advocated.”—For 11, against 14. Mr Hurst’s amendment; “The old surveyed route.”—For 14, against U!. “The Te Roti route.”—-For 11 against 15. The motion then: “The old surveyed route,” was then put and carried unanimously. Mr Moore proposed that the railway Commission he asked to sit at Opunakc. Seconded hy Mr Sorronsen and carried. The following delegates were appointed to attend the Commission and give evidence on behalf of the Railway League: Messrs Lambic, Campbell, Conaglen, .!). Markham, Malcolm, Parkes, Hurst, J. M. Rickey, O’Rorke and Rua Bishop. The secretary read a statement of finances which showed the league to have a credit balance of £4 19s.