OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 30

OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE.

A meeting of the Otago Central Railway League was held in the office of the secretary (Mr H. C. Campbell) on Monday evening, whene there were present — \Messrs W. Burnett (chairman), E. Roberts-, J. Jolly, jun., W. Ginsberg, L. D. M'George, and W. Steel. Mr A. R. Barclay, M.H.R., wrote stating that he would be unable to attend. A. G. Thomson, secretary Pembroke branch, wrote stating that the league there fully concurred with Mr Burnett, and thanked him for his outspoken remarks. They intended to have only one iron in the fire, and that was the completion of the line to Hawea. All that could be done in the meantime, up to presenting the petition to Parliament, had beeti done. In order to assist them in urging speedy construction they had requested those interested in various industries to supply statistics, and when the table was completed it would be forwarded on to the Dunedin. Leagu-e. — Received. D. Urquhart, secretary Upper Clutha Railway and Progressive League, wrote stating that so far any replies received from the Government in reference to the extension of the line beyond Cytcle had been of a noa-eommittal character. Mr J. A. M'Pherson. M.H.R. , had written stating that he bad interviewed t.he Premier, wlio was very sympathetic. Mi' M'Pherson believed that with proper representation there was reasonable hope that the extension of the line would be continued. — Received. J. G. Closs, Alexandra, wrote as follows : — I " Ballasting ar.-d platelaying are beiug con- j tiiiued about a mile below bridge. No. 2 cro3E- ' ing. There are no hindrances now to plate- i laying right along to the Mnnorburn, to which ; the rails will bo laid in two months. The ' approaches to the Mauorburn viaduct arc not j yet completed, but by the time the rails are ; laid to that point this work will be finished, i The rock cuttings on Tucker Hill will not , delay platelaying to Alexandra for, with the exception of_ one, all the cuttings are now j through, ant? this one will be completely j finished in six weeks. The r^proa^hes *° I bridge. No." 3 crossing, are baing pushed ' ahea3, and within a short time these v:ill h* j completed. None of the material for the j j aunersti-aet'Tre yf bridge No. 3 cro.-s=rn;r has j yet come to hand. After all, it would appear ' as if this bridge was going to cause delay j in the opening of tic une to Alexandra. With | (he exception oi one cottage, wuich is about finished, noue of the station building"; are being gone on with. I think some steps should be taken to induce the ITon. the Minister of Public Works to pu.=li on the work of erecting the necessary station buildings at Alexandra, so that the lire n ay bo opened for trnfnc to Alexandra, if not to Clyde, by tbe end of the year. As the men complete their formation contracts, they are being drafted to other parts of the colony. Cl*.irly. it i« not the ! intention of the Government to proceed, at j piesent. with the line beyond Clyde/ ' j Mr Roberts moved, Mr SteoJc seconding ! — "That the attention of the Government j be called to the fact that tenders had not • bee!! advertised for tiie station buildings, and that in view of the lonar-delayed No. 3 bridge nearing completion, it was desirable that the station buildings be put in hand." j —Carried. j Mr Jolly sucsrestod rbait as the next meeting of the league would be rhe last before Parliament met, be thought it would be a good idea to arrange for a. conference of all the city members, together with those for Taieri and Obalmers. in order to find out j exactly where they stood. The opinion was J expressed that the line was to he stopped j at Clyde, and he thought some influence 1 might be brous'hfc to bear on the members in resanl to the matter and they mi«*h>t be induced to change their views. The sreaker rosisidored it would be the heisht of nonss-nse not taking the line vast Clyde: and, further, the people had been promised the line for th.« last 30 or 4-0 years, and it would be an injustice to stop it within a stone's throw of their dooif. as it, were. — j The secretary was instructed to convene a i conference of tho members of Parliament ! mentioned with this object in view.

Thp Chairman suggested that a special meeting of all those interested should be Jiekl at winter show time to discuss affairs of interest connected with tbe railway. He thought they would all agree- that tlie pressure must come from the coun'ory leagues in regard to the matter of pushimir on the line. — The secretary was instructed to write to the secretaries of branches notifying them of the proposal.