CAMBRIDGE BRANCH RAILWAY.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1169, 23 December 1879, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE BRANCH RAILWAY.

PUBLIC MEETING OP RATEPAYERS.

The meeting called to consider tho question of railway communication for the Cambridge. District was well attended byinfluential settlers as will be seen by those who took part in the discussion. Many settlers were had business at the Ohaupo horse sale or woidd have been present.' Mr Maclean proposed, and Major Wilson seconded, "That Mir Ferguson take the chair." The Chairman then read notice, calling the meeting, and asked Mr Graham to move the first resolution.

Mr W. A. Graham said in proposing the first resolution he would briefly state that the formation of a company to give them railway communication did not originate with, one or two individuals, but was the outcome of the desire of all the community, seeing that .no provision has been made by the Government for this work. The session was now over; they had done all they could; their representatives had kept the matter before the Government; deputations of Waikato men, who were in "Wellington, waited upon the Minister for Public Works; Mr Ferguson was sent specially to Wellington as representing the wishes of specially called meetings on the subject, and yet the only answer that could be got was, that it was impossible to think of it in the present state of the funds at the disposal of the Government. This meant that the Cambridge District was practically shut out from railway communication. The Minister for Public Works hinted that they should avail themselves of the District .Railways Act. With this in view, a few gentlemen have studied the matter to see if it were desirable to look in this direction to attain our ends. This was the object of their meeting to-day, and although it might have been more largely ft cquld scarcely have been more influential or representative, Around him he saw gentlemen from all parts qf the dietefct. In ef ettkjng of ttiq route Mr

Bntton (a very practical authority in this matter had recommended that one by the Narrows Bridge and the Rukuhia Road. He said it would be tho cheaper line, and that it could be made for £IOOO a mile. If that could be done, and the line under 10 miles in length, the sum was Bmall indeed, the barrier slight between Cambridge, and tho advantages of railway communication. fl e therefore beged to move " That the Government, having expressed thomselvcs as being unable to°give this important town and distriot the benefit of railway communication, this meeting is of opinion that a oompany should be formed to construct a line for this purpose under the District Railwavs Act, 1877. '

Mr Hicks, in seconding the resolution said, He did not know that he could say more than that he agreed to all that the proposer had said. He believed that the line hy the Narrows was the cheapest, and it can certainly be of use to them long before the Hamilton bridge could be erected. It was short-sighted policy of the Government overlooking the claims of the community. The producing power of the district will make it one of the best paying lines in New Zealand. There appeared to for it but for the settlers to take it in hand themselves. \a far as funds go there was no doubt that the money would be forthcoming from men in the distriot.

Mr 18. B. Walker said Mr Graham had forgotten one important matter—that Mr Bntton had offered to make the line at £IOOO per mile, the Government finding material.

t Mr J. P. Campbell said after the exhaustive remarks that had preceded him there was no necessity to take up the time of the meeting. He would move, "That this meeting resolves to obtain a survey of the proposed line from Rukuhia to Cambridge, via the Narrowa; and that a subscription be started to pay all the necessary expenses, to which all in favor of this resolution pledge themselves to subscribe." In speaking to the above resolution, Mr Campbell said in following this route not only would they open up country from Rukuhia, but also get access to forty miles of country above Cambridge. The question of time, to him, was the great consideration. In this manner they could have a line open for traffic in twelve months: on the other hand, as had been atated, they might wait two or three years. He should be very sorry to see anything done to prejudice the Thames Valley line. To-day they were taking steps to obtain communication by rail, via Ohaupo. He trusted before long the requirements of the district would necessitate a branch from this line l?™™? to the Thames Valley line at Hamilton.

Mr Pearson seconded the resolution. Mr J. A. Douglas said that as the Chairman had remarked they were pressed for time he should not say much. He would therefore move the following resolution:— "That this meeting is of opinion that the cost of such survey should be defrayed by the Waikato and Waipa County Councils, and requests the representatives of the districts to endeavor to obtain the assent of the Councils to such a proposition." Mr T. Wells begged to second the resolution, and thought it a very fair request, and one we might with every confidence ask the County Councils to undertake, considering that not long since the Waikato County Council had voted a sum for the survey of the other line to junction with the Thames Valley line. Mr E. B. Walker moved the next resolution, " That a committee, consisting of the following gentlemen, be appointed to carry out the foregoing resolutions, viz.: Messrs Maclean, Martyn, Fergusson, Kirkwood, Graham, Campbell, Wells, John Runciman, Douglas, James Hally, and the mover."

Seconded by Major Wilson. Mr Maclean said before this resolution was put he should ask that it be amended by adding the words," with power to add to their number."

This was agreed to by the mover of the resolution.

All the resolutions were carried unanimously, and there was an amount of enthusiasm throughout the meeting that shows the settlers are in earnest' in the matter.

The Chairman said: Before the mootrag separates I should like to say a few words. It has been suggested that this would bo a good opportunity to explain my action at Wellington, in reference to the objeot for which I was seat there. I saw Mr Oliver the day after my arrival. He appeared very much in favor of the Cambridge line, but stated that as the Government had no funds at its disposal it could not be entertained; he recommended the construction of the line under the Railways Act. Then, U conjunction with the representatives of Waikato and Waipa, we concentrated our energies in getting the matter of the bridge at Hamilton, definitely fixed, as being the first step towards the object of my visit to Wellington. Had I known that this E reject was on foot, and that the people ere desired the line by the .Narrows I should have been quite as ready to have done my best in this direction. The great desire of the district is to obtain railway communication by somo means. To me it makes no difference what route it takes after leaving Cambridge. We are to-day advocating this route as the one most easily constructed. I trust there will be no delays in carrying it out to a successful issue, as communication by rail will add very materially to the welfare of this extensive district.

A vote of to the Chairman concluded the meeting. Subsequently the following names were added to the committee:—Messrs James Williamson, H. Paton, S.. Steele, E. Hicks, Major Wilson.