The Railway Deviation.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7941, 3 October 1905, Page 2

The Railway Deviation.

■ 0 Discusaed by Puolic Meeting. Deputation to Visit Wellington.

The public meeting held at tlio Town Hall, on Monday evening with a view to taking action to urge or. the Government the necessity of do viating tho railway line from thu centre of the town, was fairly well attended. The Mayor presided, am\ in his introductory remarks regretted that there iwas not 'a largu attendance. IJ» explained that 'in May last the Minister for .Railways had made a definite promise to the Ilorough Council 'that lie would introduce legislation this session to authorise the deviation! of the railway line from the centre of the town to the sea route. Mr Smith, M.11.K. had telegraphed that day : "I have ft question on the order paper 11 I tho j deviation! of the railway line.

Sir Joseph Ward, promises to gel authority this session to carry out the same, and deal with the land." As nothing had 'been done lo date, and I'arliament would concludu nbout Oct. t!0, the Mayor considered it imperative that united action should bo taliten to impress upon the Government the immediate necessity of the work. The) railway in the town was u'Veritublv/dcath trap. He related an incident which> -happened recently, when/a lady and child, through indecision in crossing the line while a train was approaching, had a very narrow escape. Sinoo that time .the lady had been, 'suffering .seriously, from nervous sheck. There was also the question of cro*- ; sion of the sea cliffs, about which the ■ Council had boon- agitating for some ■ timo, to be taken into account. In i the event of 'deviation, the 'line woukt > be taken past those cliffs, and the work of checking tho ■erosion would devolve |on the Government. Ifo [ moved :—"That this meeting of the public of Xo\\\ -Wyniouth l calls the attention of the Minister for Hallways t (Sir Joseph Ward) to t'ho promises made by 'hiui to the Major and Council that ho would introduce special legislation this session to en- | able the 'deviation of the railway '. from the centre of the town to bo carried out, 'and respectfully requests that effect should bo given to this ' promise."

Mr T. C. Weston seconded tho moliou. He held thai they should take definite action by wending,a deputat ion to Wellington. 1 The importance 'of the work was obvious apart from the serious 'ami •dangerous nui sauce which now existed. The question of checking the erosion of the cliffs was 'cnoug'h'.'in itself to compel the people of this) town 1 to spare no effort in having the work undertaken. He would like to see a deputation sent to request not only that the empowering legislation 'be passed this session, but 'if in the least degree possi'ble that a vote; he. placed on the supplementary estimates this year for a cemnienceinenl of the undertaking. The cost to lh,'. Government would be considerably minimised by the sale of that portion of the railway route mow used. .Mr Weston further urged that the deputation,, if sent to Wellington, should approach the Government on the , question ol providing mora money for roads in the backblocks.

The sum cf £BO,OOO 'granted so far for the district was almost useless, and would only provide a few chains of road here and there scattered over a large area. Mr S. W. Shaw warmly supported the suggestion by Mr Weston that a deputation should be sent, to Wellington. This was an exceptionally favourable time h> obtain money from the Government, for just Mori an election Ihe Government seemed to have much more cash 'available than on any other occasion. (Laughter ami applause.)

Mr Tivgellis supported the motion on behalf cf the people of J''iUroy.

The Mayor's resolution was unanimously carrii'd.

In reply to Mr Klwin. the Mayor said hu did not know the cost of tlie work, though it had been reported at one time that it would cost £23,<.KtO. The. amount derived from the sale of the railway land In town wouhl greatly reduce the. cost. Ho frit satisfied that the lawl mi both sides of Devon Street wouhl realise from £l2O to JCIiiO a foot. He made a suggestion that the <loverninent bejisked to grant the railway bridge, instead of 'dismantling it, as a crossing over the Ilvmii, so that the track could be used as a cattle route. There were borough sections en each side of the, llenui Hiver, ami the road couhl 'be continueii into the Hospital 'Komi, or to tin: back of F'it/.roy,( 'making a' second route to Idrivc stock to the abattoirs.

JUr'Klu'iii, speaking on the danger of the Devon Street crossing, said that he had often expected a hole causk, especially on Saturday, when several scores of country people ami others were congregated 'about discussing politics. (Laughter.)

After further discussion, the Mayor and Mrssrs T. S. Weston, 11. Okey (representing the County Council) and J. Ji. Comiett (representing the Chamber of Commerce) were appointed a deputation to proceed to Wellington .on Wednesday miorning to interview" Sir Joseph Warn. considered that the deputation should canlinu their 'attention to the railway. While sympathising with''tho cry for roads, he. thought it would be. only involving matters to bring this question up nt the same time. Messrs Shaw, W. Sole, and Carter were appointed a committee to receive subscriptions towards the ?x----penscs of the deputation.