NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 163, 11 July 1900, Page 2

NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

THE GOVERNMENT.TO BE WAITED

UPON

A meeting of the North Auckland Railway Extension League was held yesterday afternoon, at me long1 room, Harbour Board buildings. Eighteen persons were present. Mr bamuel vaile presided. i'he meeting was convened to agitate for the construction of a railway for the settlers of the North.

j Mr A. Fisher, secretary, explained to the meeting what had been done in the past to get the line constructed. A petition was got up and sent to Wellington. The petition was referred to the Petitions Committee, who I then forwarded it on' to the Governi ment for their favourable consideration. A sum of £10.000 was voted, but that amount was eaten up with previous work done. He thought it was a shame that there was not a railway in a country like the North, which could produce seven tropical products. | Mr Pi A. Vaile said the settlers of ithe North had not got the railway because there was no organisation in Auckland. The attendance at the meeting that afternoon was a disgrace jto Auckland merchants.

Mr Bradley said he had been a North Island settler for thirty-five years. The roads were a perfect disgrace to a civilised country. Owing to lack of railway communication the settlers were selling their sheep and cattle at 30 per cent, below their market value. Mr Coates, a settler of the North for thirty-four years, said' vthe present ■means of communication with Auckland were slow and uncertain. He had been a great loser during the past six months in not getting his stock to town for particular sales owing to adverse winds and bad roads. He boasted that they could fatten bullocks on the grass they had in the North in three months. Their land gave better results than that of the Waikato. He might also point out at the Agricultural shows himself and other settlers in the district took the majority of prizes for sheep at Auckland. He suggested the Government should be asked to borrow a special sum of money to complete the railway. The recent selections taken up by settlers' sons showed the quality of the land in the North. If they only had the railway the North would be a thriving place, and it would bring ilarge business to Auckland. The Hon. E. Mitchelson said the settlers ought to put their shoulders to the wheel and work hard. The extension of the line would be of great benefit to Auckland. He was surprised the merchants of Auckland did not take more interest in the matter. i IHe was certain that the northern lands would produce as much per acre as any'land in Wellington. He urged a deputation should be sent to Wellington. ■ ■• A motion to put all present at the meeting on the committee was agreed to. The Hon. E. Mitchelson and Messrs Bradley, G. L. Peacocke and F. Colbeck were appointed a deputation to urge upon the Government the great necessity of speedily completing the line of railway, from Auckland to Mangonui. . . ■ . . ;