NORTH TRUNK RAILWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4, 5 January 1903, Page 8

NORTH TRUNK RAILWAY.

PUBLIC MEETING,

A public meeting, called by the Auckland. North Island Main Trunk Railway League, was" held at the Harbour Board offices co-day. The Hon. E. Mitchelson presided, and there was a large attendance, included in the number present being the following M.H.R.'s: Messrs. E. G. B. Moss (Ohinemuri), A. E. Harding (Kaipara), F. Massey (Franklin), M. M. Kirkbride (Marmkau), F. H. Mander (Marsden), A. Kidd (Auckland City), F. Lawry (Parnell), F. E. Baume (Auckland City), E. W. Alison (Waitemata), J. Bollard (Eden), F. Lang (Waikato). Among others/present were Messrs. J. H. Upton, J. Kirker, J. Burns, L. Myers, L. Benjamin, A. Fisher, G. Aickin, B. Coates, J. C. Macky, J. Pitt.

In opening the business of the meeting the chairman delivered an address on the line and the progress being made in its construction. Mr. Mitchelson said the meeting had been called to give new members an opportunity of expressing their views on the railway. Such a large .attendance of new members augured well for the future of the railway. He hoped and expec+ed that there would be greater imanirility among the new members than there had been in the past. The league had done a good deal since its inception four years ago, but not as much as they had expected. It had been promised that the railway should be completed in 1904. This was now impossible, and the new members should combine to see that the completion was not delayed beyond 1905. He thought that the North had some reason -to complain. In. the South they had no difficulty with the natives such as had been experienced in the North. The Southerners now said that the South must have equal proportion of money allocated, but the South had 1500 miles against the North's 900, while the North had not in the past raised objection to the expenditure of the larger share of the moneys in the South. Large sums were still being voted to small lines which could well afford to wait until the communication through the North was completed. The large population North of Auckland were waiting almost in despair for the line from Helensville northwards, and a miserable vote of about £15,000 a year was being expended. The line from Auckland to Wellington would open up an enormous territory, and would be one of the most paying lines in the country. Seeing that the Government owned such enormous areas between Auckland and Wellington, he thought they should put a little moro vigour into the construction of the railway, thereby opening up these lands, which the people were anxiously awaiting an opportunity to settle. .He thought that Aueklanders did not fully reali.se the enoritibus benefits which the completion of the North Auckland line would confer on Auckland. There was a goe* <xeal of excellent land in the NorSn, which was evidenced by the fact that in .one county alone —the Hobson county—the population had doubled between the last census and the one preceding. He thought is would open the eyes of the new members if they could see some of the land recently opened in the Northern Wairoa districts. He urged members the necessity of ■members urging upon the Premier and Ministers to take a trip through tne North, and to compel the natives to opeiv their lands to settlement. He wanted the Premier to travel the trip travelled by the Parliamentary League last year, and he was satisfied that Mr Seddon would then see that , the present state of affairs should no longer continue. He moved: "That in the opinion of this meeting it is of paramount importance that the Main Trunk railway between Auckland and Wellington should be completed with the least possible delay. This meeting is also of opinion that the Government should direct its efforts to the early completion of the said line instead of pushing on branch lines. which do not possess the same national importance as' the AucklandWellington Main Trunk line. Further, this meetinjr would strongly urge all member from the Auckland provincial district to be strong and united in their efforts to obtain speedy direct railway communication with Wellington, so that justice so long withheld, may be done without any further delay to the North Island of this colony." (Proceeding.)