TUAPEKA RAILWAY COMMITTEE

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 190, 5 October 1871, Page 5

TUAPEKA RAILWAY COMMITTEE

A meeting of the above Committee was held in the Commercial Hotel, on Tuesday afternoon. There were present — Mr. M'Swiney, in the chair, and Messrs. Morrison, Mouat, Hay, Harropj-and the hon. sec. Mr. Win. Nott Grooday. Mr. Morrison explained that the meeting had been .called at the request of himself and one or two others.' Several people had asked him what the Railway Committee were about tlytt they have not field, a meeting lately -He quite agreed with them that a meeting should be called, now that the survey had been completed, to consider what steps should be taken to forward the construction of the line. From Mr. Grisborne's statement, it appeared that the Tuapeka line was considered

a branch one, and would be treated as other' lines — that is to say, its construction would not be undertaken unless the inhabitants of the district were prepared to rate themselves in the event of the line not being likely to pay working expenses. He believed the line from Tokomairiro to Tuapeka would pay better than any other. Mr. Mouat said it^was quite unreasonable to suppose that a district would tax itself to make good the working expenses of a railway over which it would have no control. The Committee had previously recommended that the 95,000 acres of commonage in the district should be laid aside. The matter was fully gone into by a committee of the Provincial Council, who resolved that the line of railway referred to should be made. On a motion of Mr. Bastings, it was decided that this resolution and the report of the Select Committee should be sent to the General Government. The resolution had been sent, but the report, which gave detailed evidence showing that the line would pay well, was not sent.

The following resolutions were then unanimously carried : — Ist. Moved by Mr. Mouat, and seconded by Mr. Harrop, " That the attention of the Provincial Grovernbe called to the fact that they have failed to carry out the resolutions of the Provincial Council, proposed by Mr. Bastings and carried, requesting them to forward the petition of the inhabitants of Tuapeka, and the report of the Select Committee of the Council, on the Tuapeka railway to the Colouial Government."

2nd. Moved by Mr. Mon'ison, and seconded by Mr. Hay, "That this Committee desires the Colonial Grovernment to proceed at once with the construction of the Tuapeka railway now that the survey is completed." 3rd. Moved by Mr. liarrop, and seconded by Mr. Hay, "That the Government be recommended to take the 95,000 acres of commonage, at present realising a revenue of £3000 a year, as a guarantee that the proposed railway will pay working expenses."