TELEGRAPH CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 912, 27 April 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPH CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES.

RE THAMES WAIKATO RAILWAY. There was a large meeting of members of the various local bodies interested m the Thames- Waikato Railway at the conference meeting, held at Hamilton yeslerdaj^. The Waikato Council was represented by Messers Claude (chairman), J. ]{. \ Whyte, Clarke, Cumming, and 11. 1 Kirkwood ; the Waipa Counoil, by ! Messer J. D. Hill (chairman), and j Hay ; Hamilton Borough by I. 11. , Vialou (Mayor), Hume, Potter, c Gwynne, Dawson, Beale, and Coates; t Waitoa Board by Messrs Campbell ! and Walker. The clerks of the a Waikato Counly Council, and 1 Hamiltou Borough wero also pre- »' sent. The Mayor of Hamilton !' presided. *j The following telegram received t on Thursday, from Dr Kilgour, of * Grahamstown, formed the basis of t{ the business of the conference : — S( Govornment is willing to introduce a „ Bill next session to enable a company to s ] construct a railway between Thames and q Waikato, although unable at present to indicate the provisions of the Bill. Please S( be prepared to-morrow with suggestions H for Ministers : — ■ I I— -As to terminus at Thames and v, Waikato. * „ i

2— As to extent and dtiratiouof Government guarantee. 3 — As to rating native lauds. 4 -As to what distance from the railway hue should the rating power cease. s— Should rating be uniform within rating districts. 6— For what period should company retain possession. The questions propounded iv the iibove were answered seriatium as follows : — In reference to question No. 1, ! the Hamilton conference replied : As near Grahamstown as consistent with economy. At Hamilton to connect with main trunk line. A branch line to Cambridge to be included .n the scheme. Counties to be taxed m proportion to tho cost of railway passing through them. In reply to this above telegramone was received m a few minutes : We agree to youi- suggestions. No. 2— Twenty-one years' duration o* guarantee. No. 3— Seeing that we are unable to tiix Government or native lands, suggest that Govoi-ument increase guarantee to 5 per cent. No. 4 and s—Net5 — Net more than ten miles on each side of railway to be rated on a valuation basis, proximity to the stations to be considered. No. 6— The company constructing the line to retain possession for twenty-one years, at wliich time Government should have power to purchase. During the Conference, the following telegrams were received from the 'J harnes. We suggest that the Government are asked m the Bill to guarautee o per cent, for 15 years The terminus of railway at Thames should be within the Borough of Thames. Reply where terminus m Waikato should be. We arc of opiuion that the question of rating native lands should be left m abeyance for the present. We think the rating should cease afte*-" ten miles on each side of thc line. We agree to your suggestion. What is your opinion of amount of guarantee from Government, and tbo rating of native hinds ? We think it should be a uniform rate on a speoial valuation, according 1 o benefits received and proximity to stations and line. From the report received of the proceedings at Newcastle, we find that the local Hoard agreed m all main points with those at Hamilton and Thames.