CHRISTCHURCH RAILWAY. LEAGUE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9662, 7 November 1882, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH RAILWAY. LEAGUE.

(per united press association.) Christohurch, Not. 6. A meeting of representatives from various public bodies attended by upwards of 00 gentlemen, who met by invitation of His Worship the Mayor was held in the City Council Chambers, at 3 p.m to-day. Several members of Parliament were also present. The Mayor, who presided, thanked those present for their response to his invitation, and explained that the object was to consider the advisability of forming a league having for its object the advocacy of the construction of the West Coast line, Mr W. D. Meares, representing (with Mr Chrystall) the Chamber of Commerce, understood that all those who attended were pledged in favour of the immediate construction of the proposed line. The majority of the members of the Chamber of Commerce were in favour of the construction of a West Coast in preference to an Bast Coast line. Personally he was opposed to the £5,000,000 loan. If the league was to make inquiries and investigation by committees it had his hearty support. Mr A. G-. Howland proposed, That this convention form itself into an association to be called the railway league ; the association to consist of a president, chairman, secretary, and treasurer, and a committee of the gentlemen present •with power to add to their Humbert

This was carried withoutopposition. The meeting then proceeded to discuss resolutions condemning the East Coast line. The first was, That it is the opinion of this league that the construction of the trunk line via east to Blenheim would he a waste of public funds, and detrimental to interests of this province and the colony at large. To this Mr E. Gr. Wright moved a series of amendments in the direction of delay for further information until the railway commissioners had reported. There was considerable discussion, the result being that the amendment was withdrawn, aud a resolution carried, That in view of the large resources on the West Coast, and steadily increasing populations, this league is of opinion that the share of the loan allowed towards the trunk line northwards should be applied in the construction of a line from the Hurunui to the West Coast, and that Government be requested to cause surveys to be made as early as possible with a view to ascertain the best route in that direction. An influential committee was appointed to carry out the object of the league, and the meeting separated.