Thames Valley Bailway-Committee.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2793, 26 January 1878, Page 2

Thames Valley Bailway-Com-mittee.

A meeting of the Thames Galley Bailway Committee was held at the Borough Council Chambers last evening./ There were present—His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Messrs McCullough* Brodie, Spencer, Gibbons, Mennie,, Hume, Davies, Carpenter, and Dean (hon. iec). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

A letter was read' from Messrs MeCullough and McGoiran, asking the secretary to call the meeting. ■; Mr McCullough was called on by the Chairman to state the business, and the object he had in having the meeting called. In reply, Mr McCullough. said that knowing the deep interest felt by the members of the Committee and the public generally on the question of the railway from the Thames to the Waikato, he had suggested to the hon** tee.; the advisability of calling the Committee together. Since the last meeting of the Committee, as all present were aware, a Bill had passed through the Assembly giving power to joint stock companies and capitalists to construct railways through certain districts, and as a railway to the Waikato would not be constructed by the Government under the Public Works Act, he thought it advisable that steps should be taken by the Committee to take advantage of the District Railways Bill. The provisions of the 'Bill were not as favorable as could be' wished, or as it was hoped they would be when the Bill was presented to the House. Of course there were difficulties in the way, for instance the acquiring of the land, and he thought they should urge on the Government to acquire the ; lands as speedily as possible. They ; all knew what had been done at Sir G. Grey and the Hon. J. Sheehan's visit, and the for* mer had himself recommended them to agitate and keep their wants before the Government. He was especially pleased to see present several County Councillors. /

The Mayor thought it would be desirable to have an expression of opinion from the County Chairman on the matter. Mr Brodie said when he was in Auckland Mr J. S. Macfarlane had informed him that the money for the construction of the railway was in Auckland. He referred to the District Eailways Bill, the provisions of which were not as favorable as those of the contemplated Act. The Government guaranteed two per cent, and the Waikato and Piako Counties would guarantee one per cent., and they would have to guarantee the balance of the 7 per cent. They (the County Council) intended to have called a meeting of the authorities of the other Counties interested, and ascertained their views on the matter. He referred to the fact that the native lands were free from taxation, and it was through native lands that the line would run. He thought that the Government might give them a special guarantee for the line going through the native districts. The Mayor said that as the Government exempted the native laud from tax-

ation, he thought that they (Government) should stand in their place and make up for Sfc. L?or the information of the meeting lie might say that the Government preferred to procure .the land before making tho railway or taking any steps in tho matter. He considered Mr Brodio's reasoning perfectly logical. Mr Gibbons moved, " That at tho present time, while the Government were pressing on the purchase of the lands, thin Committee considers it advisable not to urge on the matter, us the effect would be to lock up the lands from the people by enhancing its value to its present owners, and rendering attempts to purchase it abortive." Mr Hume seconded. Mr Mennio was surprised that a motion like that was put before them. Ho though that they magnified the Nativo difficulty too much. The Mayor said that he thought that the motion rather seemed to throw cold water on the scheme, and he would ask them to amend the resolution. Thoy should urge on the Government to push on the immediate purchase of the land as soon as possible. Mr Brodie said that the only native difficulty was at the Komata. All the other land was in the hands of the Government.

Mr McCullongh said he considered that the native difficulty was not so great that, it should deter them from Eressing the construction of the railway. [c thought that a few facts should be laid before Government such as.the following : —That the money could be obtained for* the.construction of the railway ; and that blocks only partially purchased required to have their purchases completed as soon as possible. He moved the following amendment:—" That a sub-committee of three gentlemen from.this committee wait on the Premier and Hon. Native" Minister when they arrive in Auckland next week, and lay before them the position of the question of the proposed railway from the Thames to Waikato, and request that every exertion be made to remove certain obstacles in the way, and urge the completion of the purchases of several blocks of land partially acquired by Mr Mackay and others." He said that the capitalists wanted 6 per cent, guaranteed. He did not place much stress on" the financial difficulty. The Government guaranteed 2 per cent, and if the Waikato and Thames Counties contributed I per cent, each, and the Borough of Thames and Hamilton another 1 per cent, each the difficulty would be met. MrDavics said that he thought they should ask the Government to have a line surveyed. He thought they could do it, and'fit would give useful information, as they could then see what land was required to be purchased, and the way the line would run.

Mr McCullough said according to the Act the promoters of the railway would hare to make it themselves. Mr Brodie said that Mr McCullough was quite right. They would hare to get a surrey made themselves. He conI sidered that the only difficulty was the guarantee. It was the financial difficulty, not the Native, that would retard the ! progress of the scheme. In all probability the line of railway would ran alongI side the County road laid out to OhineMr Davies said thai the assertion that the Government would not make a iurvey of course knocked him flat. Let the promoters do it then. Mr Mennie seconded the amendment. Mr Gibbons said that he did not mean to say that the natives would not give the actual land for the railway to go through, but the putting of the railway through would greatly enhance the value of the land, and would thus retard settlement. Mr Carpenter spoke in favor of the views of Mr McCullowgh and others who urged the speedy acquisition of the land through which the proposed line of railway would run. The Chairman having put the amend* ment and the resolution to the meeing, six voted for the former, and three for the latter. The amendment was declared carried. Mr McCuliough then proposed, in terms of the resolution, that the subcommittee be Dr Xilgour, Mr Brodie and Mr Carpenter, which was seconded by Mr Mennie, and carried. ' Mr McCullough suggested to the Com* mittee that they should invite the cooperation and presence of influential gentlemen in Auckland, such as Mr Thomas Morrin, Mr J, S. Macfarlane, and others, also gentlemen from the Waikato district in their interview with Bir Geo. Grey and the Hon. John Bheehan. This was approved of by the meeting, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated proceedings.