NORTHERN RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 239, 8 October 1891, Page 2

NORTHERN RAILWAY LEAGUE.

LAST EVENING'S MEETING. MR MITCHELSON'S VIEWS. Last evening the Committee of the Northern Railway League met at bhe Municipal Buildings, tho Mayor (Mr J. H. Upton) presiding. The Mayor stated that he could not undertake the permanent Chairmanship of bhe League, and he wished bo inform them thab the idea of his continuing to act in thab capacity was out of the question. Then he could not altogether agree with the programme of the League as read to a previous meeting, and he also considered that it would bo disastrous for tho colony to attempt to borrow under existing circumstances. He would not lend hia aid to tho Governmenb as a sbalking-horse to bring forward a proposal for a large loan. He had requested Mr E. Mitchelson to.attend that meeting, and had also asked him to be good enough to obtain- figures from the Public Works Department showing the exact cost of the proposed works. Mr P, E. Cheal was elected a member of the League.

Mr Mitchelson gave some interesting and valuable information regarding tho central route. He believed thab in the interests of the whole colony,- as well as of Auckland, the central, and not thß Stratford route, should be proceeded with. He had not yet received an answer to his telegram of inquiry as to the probable cost of the Stratford line. Under his direction a sum of between £15,000 and £20,000 had been spenb in making detailed surveys, the result of which was that all the information required was now in the Public Works Department, and would enable the Minister in charge to let contracts to-morrow if necessary. The actual cost of connection

between Ngaire, near Stratford, and Te Awamutu would be at leasb £1,500,000, bub from thab they would have to deduct the amount already spent between Te Awamutu and the present end of the line. He was convinced that the central route would be to the advantage of Auckland and tho whole colony. A large area of good land would be opened up by the central line. Between the present line" from Wellington to New Plymouth and tho pumice land there was a strip of country of an average width of 65 miles, of excellent carrying capacity. Thero was a splendid bush and sheep country there, and tho strips of good land ran for seventy or eighty miles in length. Only the contral railway would open up this'country. Bush was being rapidly foiled on part of this big block, and it was beintrapidly prepared for settlement, which proved thab it must be good. Unfortunately, the natives owned the greater part of ib, but the Government were acquiring ib as quickly as possible. The central lino would cost aboub two millions. For its whole distance, the line would nob travel through mora than 50 miles of pumice land.

The Mayor pointed out that the League bad been formed in order to get railway communicabion between Auckland and Taranaki, and that this was, for one thing, moro attainablo than the contral lino.

The meeting then procoeded to amend tho League programme submitted ab the previous meeting. Ib was altered to read as follows :—Tho objects of this Leaguo are practical and absolutely apart from all politics or parties. 1. To stop the misappropriation of the North Trunk Railway loan before the balance is finally misappropriated and diesipated. 2. To insist on tho immediate expenditure of tho £65,000 voted for tho extension of the North Island Trunk Railway to the Porotorau tunnel, and also to insist upon tho completion of tho line via Stratford instead of by the central route.

3. With these object* in view, tho League propose to create an organisation which shall unite all sections of tho community to support our members in bringing pressure to boar upon any Ministry to enforce the just claims of Auckland wiih regard to railway extension.

Ib was decided, on tho motion of Mr A. Kidd, an Executive Committee of seven, four to form a quorum, be appointed. The following gentlemen wero appointed as the Committee :—Messrs Gerald Pcacocke, G. J. Hutchinson, P. Oliphanb, W. Jennings, W. Crowther, and A. Kelly. Tho question of electing a chairman was deferred until tho next meeting of the League.

Tho Mayor stated that the room in which they were" now sitting was always at the disposal of tho Committee for their meetings.

Tho' question of definitely fixing on a committee-meeting room was, however, deferred until the next goneral meeting. The question of appointing paid officers was also deferred pro tern.

Somo discussion took place regarding the question of tho advisability of raising a further loan to finish tho line. Messrs Graves Aickin, A. Porter and others strongly opposed tha idea of borrowing.