KAIPARA RAILWAY EXTENSION.

Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 2030, 11 August 1876, Page 3

KAIPARA RAILWAY EXTENSION.

A meeting of the land-owners of the Whau was held last evening for the purpose of considering the matter of compensation for land required for the Kaipara railway. Messrs Lamb and Bollard convened the meeting, and Allan Kerr Taylor, Esq., occupied the chair. —The chairman regarded the matter as of great importance to the district, and, so far as he could learn, the claims for compensation were extremely moderate. He hoped they would be able that night to shew to the Government and the public that they were not actuated by selfish motives, and that they were prepared to assist, rather than to obstruct, the Government in the proseoution of the work.—Mr John Lamb moved the first resolution, viz., "That this meeting recognise the necessity of the extension of the Kaipara railway to Auckland, and are willing to meet the Government in a fair spirit with regard to the land required for that purpose."— Mr Lamb spoke at length in support of his resolution, and stated that he had taken great Interest in this question for some years past; he believed that a great amount of traffic would be brought over this line to Auckland. Mr Lamb read a letter from Mr Thos. Henderson, stating that a great deal of odium had been brought to him for making a claim, as it was Baid he ought to give the land for nothing. He only asked £3 5s per acre, for the whole stretch of some two mileß, by one chain in width, not 'more than twenty acres in all. But to shew the Governmeat and that meeting that he would not stand in the way, he would not only give the land free, but give £3 5s per acre for every acre they take, provided that the Government will guarantee to complete the line to Auokland within the year 1877, and put the Great North Road into such a condition as to become a feeder to the railway.—Mr Bollard was of opinion that nearly every settler would make large concessions rather than the work should be neglected.—Mr Buchanan said there waa a manifest desire to meet the Government honorably and unselfishly in the matter, and they would afford every facility for progressing with the railway.—Mr Spencer spoke on behalf of the settlers about the Wairoa river, who were anxious that the work should be done.—Messra Suiter, Walters, Wrigley, and Greenwood having gpoken in a kifldred starin, Mr Phillips proposed as an amendment:—That this meeting deplores the absence of fair play on the part of the Government towards the settlers interested in the Kiwpara Railway, and that deliberate efforts should have been made by a mere pretext to evade the construction. —Mr James Baber was of opinion that the claims made by the settlers in the present instance were not extravagant, but rather moderate. —Mr Monk seconded Mr Phillips' amendment, which was supported by Mr McCaul. —Mr Phillips then extended hia amendment as follows :-" That this meeting recognise the necessity of the extension of the Kaipara railway to Auckland, and deplores the absence of fair play on the part of. the Government towards the settlers interested in its construction; and that deliberate efforts have been made to develope mere pretexts to evade its construction, inasmuch as the statement made by the Government that the large compensation /e<l u»"ea by the settlers through whose land, the railway is proposed to be carried, is not the proper reason for the non-carrying out and non-construction of the railway. —After eorne further discussion, Mr Smter moved. —" That this meeting is of opinion that tna extension of the Kiverhead and Kaipara Railway, as proposed by the Minister for Public Works in this Public Works btatement, is at present wholly unnecessary, ana that the sum of £15,000 proposed to be expended in its construction will be attended with greater and more immediate piipho advantage if judiciously employed in ttie continuation of the line to Auckland. — Mr Mcßlwaine seconded. The motion on being put was carired by 16 to 13. It waa then resolved that the resolutions Bhould be forwarded to the members for Eden and Waitemata, and a vote of thanks to tha chairman closed the meeting.