AUCKLAND RAILWAY LEAGUE

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 217, 12 September 1900, Page 2

AUCKLAND RAILWAY LEAGUE

ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING AT PAPAKOA.

From Our Own Correspondent.)

PAPAROA, September 7.

In response to an Invitation from the Paparoa branch of the League, Messrs F. Colbeck and Jackman, who recently visited Wellington as delegates, met the settlers In Mr Chile's hall and detailed their experiences.

After a few Introductory remarks by the Chairman (Mr Tibbits), the senior delegate, Mr Jackman, gave a clear and concise account of their reception by the Premier. Full particulars having already appeared in the papers, there is no occasion to repeat them. Although the delegates received no detiiiite promise of a large grant on the forthcoming estimates, the Premier assured them that the railway would be pushed on at a more rapid rate than heretofore, and whilst admitting we had not received fair play in the past, he would see that better treatment is reserved for us in future. Notwithstanding the fact that Mr Jackman was suffering from a severe cold, his address proved, interesting and instructive, and was heartily received. He took this opportunity to fully justify the action taken by the Whakapirau branch in appointing two gentlemen to wait upon the Ministers. Mr Frank Colbeck fully endorsed the statements of his co-delegate, and added some pungent remarks upon the importance attached to the railway scheme from a money value point of view. It is an amazing fact that notwithstanding the strong expressions made by settlers on every side of thoir determination to have the railway, when tho balance-sheet is examined tlio amount of money subscribed towards the working of the League is, beyond all measure, paltry in the extreme. The population of North Auckland is 50,000, and the amount subscribed is somewhere about a £10 note. The subscriptions asked for are limited to If, and, as Mr Colbeck pointed out, if a settlement like Maungaturoto, which Is the first important point which the railway will touch, can only raise 17/6, it is only just to conclude that they estimate its value to their district at that price. Taking into consideration the enormous importance which direct communication by rail with a large centre means, the apathy of those who will benefit most is astonishing. A remark made by the Chairman is full of truth, and to some extent accounts for the want of activity in the younger generation in furthering our object. • A very large number of people who have been either brought here at an early age or born in these back blocks have never felt the advantages to be derived from railway intercourse, and although their elders may urge upon them the benefits which would accrue, it is very difficult for them to realise them. The fact that it would increase our taxes, etc., seems to awe them, quite forgetting that with the advent of a railway station the value of our land is enhanced to a greater extent than by any other institution, unless it is the discovery of a goidflcld on one's property. With a railway conies increased laud values, very much increased population all along the line, with consequent demand for farm produce, and, above all, easy access to a market for perishable goods and live stock. It is an almost certain fact that money will be borrowed for rallw'av construction, and whether It comes up North or is expended elsewhere in the colony, it Is equally certain that we have to bear our share in paying the interest on the loan, as we have been doing on the large sums spent on the Southern railways;

Mr Wilfred Colbeek. who is visiting in tho district, as treasurer of the League was asked to give his opinion as to the '-import likely to he received from the Auckland merchants, and it was very gratifying to learn that these gentlemen are now commencing to realise the advantages to themselves to be obtained by more direct communication. For some time past a large quantity of goods (sharps, flour, grain, potatoes, etc.) has been coming regularly from Southern ports to the Kaipara, and a share of trade wliich should in the natural course belong to Auckland is going elsewhere. Communications have been held with Sydney merchants to open a market for our produce mutually advantageous, nnd the idea:' is more than feasible. Although Auckland is our natural market, we are very much in the position of a shipwrecked mariner wlio finds himself on a desert isle with a chest of gold and feeling hungry.

A very pleasing feat-ire of the meeting was n resolution passed in a most bonrtv manner ns follows:—"Tlmt the secretnry of the League bo requested to write to the editor of the 'Stnr' newsnaner, nskinsr him to accept the heartiest thanks of the meeting for the very able and Judicious mnnnor In which the claims of the North Aueklnnd Railway have been ndvopated In Its columns, nnd our kpon aonrepfatlon of their efforts for the fm-thornnop of our obieet."

As the "henflrmnrtpr" .brnneh of the T.pficnie hns dpe'ded to allow the pTnensos of only one of the delegates, a p'rpulir hns been Issued. cmnhntfTisr from the Whnknplrnui seerotarv. inviting ,1/ snbserintlons to rlnfrfiy the balance of expenses Incurred. A fair sum was oollpetpfl in the ball, nnd itIs ho~>pd other briuiphps will co-operate in th's desi,rablp idea. A most cordl'ti vote of thanks was no corded to 'Wpssrs Coll.ppk nnd .Tnekrnan for their pxertlons, .nnd n promise of further sminort nt nny time when vpquh-pd.

The loenl peeretnry, Vv Hook, rend, the bnlnnpe-slipets, nnd a vote of thanks to the chairman terminated a very successful gathering.