TUAPEKA RAILWAY. PUBLIC MEETING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 234, 25 July 1872, Page 7

TUAPEKA RAILWAY. PUBLIC MEETING.

One of the best and most influontially attended public meetings ever held in Lawrence took place on Monday night last, at the Commercial Assembly Rooms. The meeting was convened by circular by the Mayor of Lawrence, and although only a few hours' notice was given, a large number of gentlemen from the Blue Spur and other localities were present.

The Mayor of Lawrence stated that in consequence of a letter' he had received from Mr. Brown, the member for the district, the previous evening, he had considered it his duty io c nvene tlie meeti ig. He went over the action that had b^en taken with reference to getting the Tuapeka line included in the first schedule of railways proposed .to be constructed, and stated that he had hoped to have seen the commencement of a railway from Tokomairiro to Lawrence, thence to proceed by way of Beaumont, Roxburgh, and Alexandra, made ere now. All present knew that for some time past there had been a movement for the construction of a line of railway from the Waipahee via Tapanui to Moa Flat. The promoters of that line were not content with advocatingits merits, but had made assertions in disparagement of the Tuapeka line regardless of truth. The promoters of the Waip'ahee line were men who had bought large blocks of land at a low rate, and they were now striving to get railways through their purchases, that they might enjoy princely estates. In order to do that, they wished to have the railway diverted from its proper course, and fro>n a rich and populous district, through a district yet" unpeopled. These men had sent up a petition to the Government, and he had discovered, though that gentlemau was exceedingly reticent upon the subject, that Mr. Miller, F.S.A., had beeu sent up to take a flying survey. He had it upon undoubted authority that the petition he had alluded to had had the effect of preventing tho completion of the working plans of the line from Tokomairiro to Lawrence. Captain Fraser and Mr. Anderson, of Cargill and Anderson had gone up to Wellington to to urge this Waipahee line, and they would briug powerful influences to bear to secure their end. As to the merits of the two lines, there was no comparison. The Tuapeka line passed through admittedly the midst of the most settled and the most prosperous district in the province —he might say in the colony ; and. by the statistics gathered it was proved that it would be one of the best paying lines in the colony. He reminded them that, however communities might differ, there was one class that acted in concert, and that class was now acting in a Eanner inimical to the welfare of the district and the colon}'. The promoters of the Waipahee 1 na w re pi. ying a high game, and were spending money to Secure the victory. They had enlisted powerful influence on their side, and it behoved the inhabitants of the district to exert themselves to the utmost to counteract that influence. He suggested that a committee be formed to get up a petition, to be signednot only in thedistrict, but in Dunedin, Tokomairiro, Teviot, and other places. Mr. Hayes moved, " That a committee be appointed to draw up a petition, to be , sent to the General Assembly." He suggested that the petition be sent to Wellington in charge of the Mayor and Mayorelect, and that a subscription be made to defray all expenses incurred. Mr. Edward Herbert agreed with the remarks made by the Chairman. He alluded to the neglect the Tuapeka district had suffered from, and hoped that the meeting would not separate without some decisive action being taken regarding the Tuakeka Railway. Fie thought it was beyond dispute that .without its great feeder the Clutha line would be a failure. He, did not believe in pitting one line against another, and if the promoters of the Tapanui line had not attempted to disparage the Tuapeka line, he would not have advised any action to be taken. He seconded the motion . Mr. Hay stated that tho Tuapeka Railway had been considered one of the most reproductive that would be constructed in the colony. He recommended prompt and energetic action, as powerful inflneuce had to be contended against. Mr. Tolcher said the idea of constructiug the line from Waipahee was absurd. It would lengthen the Molyneux Valley line, and would pass through country where a man could travel 45 miles without seeing a, house. Throughout that district there w..as scarcely an acre of cultivated ground, and if the railway was •to have any traffic, the trains would have to call at every station. "Be concluded by comparing the relative traffic on the Tuapeka and Clutha roads. The Rev. Mr. Menzies agreed with the motion. He asked what population — what resources had the districts through which' the Waipahee line is likely to pass, and what would be the result if that line were constructed ? . Mr. Peter Robinson said that the natural direction for a rail way^ from Tokomairiro to the Dunstan*was via Tuapeka. I£ that line were constructed, and a liberal land law passed, thousands of men with 1 their families would settle along its course. If the Waipahee line were undertaken, the best interests of the country would be thwarted. He hoped every .man in the meeting would show that he was determined that- the' interior railway should come by way of Tuapeka. #*■*• ■ . '" Mr. Morrison urged action. 1 '" 'Ifo railway would pay unless there 'was pogola-

tion to support it. Tf in the old country, railways had been* made form London to nobleman's country j seats j instead of to centres of population, would they have paid? If the Waipahee Railway were I constructed to the exclusion of the Tuapeka line, a line would be made for the benefit of a dozen men, to the detriment iof a thickly populated district. He though as the General Government had included the Tuapeka line in the Ist Schedule, no time should be lost in commencing it. He concluded by impressing those present with the necessity of put • ting their hands in their pockets, to secure the object they had in view. Mr. Adams stated that the distance between Tokomairiro and Moa Flat, via Waipahee and Tapanui, was 89 miles. The distance between Tokomairiro and Moa Flat, via Lawrence, was 52 miles. The country to be traversed was of the same nature. He pointed out that the promoters of |the Waipahee line made capital out of the fact that to Moa Flat was only a distance of 40 miles from the Cluth and Mataura Railway ; but the fact was that, to reach Dunedin, the Clyde, people of Roxburgh, Alexandra, and if that railway was constructed, would have to travel 37 miles further than if the line were made through Tuapeka. The motion was then put and carried. The following gentlemen were appointed the Committee : — Messrs. ■ Bastings, Dr. Stewart, Herbert, M'Beath, Hayes, W. D. Morrison, Hobertson,Cormack, Mouat, Ferguson, Meyer, Harrop, Tolcher, Farrer, Jamison, Clayton, Sheath, Dr. Halley, Williams, and the mover. 'A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings. Subscription lists were opened to defray necessary expenses, and a considerable sum was subscribed by those in the room. A meeting of the Committee was held immediately after the public meeting. Mr. Bastings was elected Chairman, Mr. Hayes, Secretary, and Mr Fcirrer, Treasurer. It was resolved to draft and circulate for signature a petition in favour of the Tuapeka Railway. The following gentlemen were appointed to canvass the districts : — Dunedin, Mr. E. Herbert; Beaumont, Mr. Sheath ; Blue Spur, Messrs. W. D. Morrison and J. Cormack ; Waipori, Dp. Stewart ; Waitahuna and Havelock, Mr. Sydney Wilson ; Tuapeka Mouth, Mr. A. M'Beath ; Glenore, Mr. Coombe; Tnapeka Flat, Mr. Docherty ; Evans Flat, Mr. Hopkins ; Lawrence, Mr Ilarrop and Mr. R. Williams ; Wetherstones, Mr. Farrer and Mr. M'Beath ; Teviot, Mr. Bastings ; Tokomairiro, Mr. J. L. Gillies. Lists were also directed to b) forwarded to Messrs. Chalmers and Grundy. A Sub-Committee, consisting of Messrs. Bastings, Monat, Herbert, and W. D. Morrison, was appointed to draft the petition. After a discussion, it was decided that Messrs. Bastings and E. Herbeit should be appointed delegates to proceed to Wellington, if necessary. The meeting then adjourned.