THE CLUTHA RAILWAY.

Bruce Herald, Volume VI, Issue 364, 19 April 1871, Page 6

THE CLUTHA RAILWAY.

A public meeting, called by his -Worship the Mayor, was held in the Council Hall, Milton, on Thursday evening; for the purpose of taking steps to secure the commencement of the railway at different parts along the line. The hall was filled in every part. His Worship the Mayor, who was called upon to preside, explained the object of the meeting. He said they were all aware that the construction df the railway had been commenced at the Dunedin end, and he thought it would be a great matter to have it commenced at different points along the line. Milton, ho looked upon as one of the most important inland towns of tho Province, and thought the railway works should be commenced here and at Balclutha. Many men were about in search of work—some ot them married men having families dependant upon them for their support. Tf the railway works were carried on at different points, it would give them employment and tend to remove the present depression. This he looked upon as a most important matter, and which ought to bo considered and urged upon the Government. The public mustjjspeak out and let their voice bo heard in the matter, and he had no doubt their wishes would be given effect to. He called upon some gentleman to propose a resolution. Mr R. R. Jones said, that in order to carry out the desirable object referred to by the Chairman, it was necessary that some action be taken. If the present rate of progression with the railway was adhered to, it was hard to say when it would roach Tokomairiro. It had been the experience in other countries where railways had been formed, that they greatly improved the properties and the trade of the districts through which they passed. He had no doubt the same would prove to be the case here, and it was therefore of the greatest importance to all of them that the work should be carried out as expaditiously as possible, and in small contracts at different points along the line. He moved the adoption of the following petition to the General Assembly and the Provincial Council :— The Petition of the undersigned Settlers in the Districts of Matau, Milton, and Waihola. Humbly sheweth.— That your petitioners have been, and still continue to be, anxiou 3 to see the Dunedin and Clutha Railway con structed as economically and expadiliously as possible, consistent with sound principles and due regard to efficiency and economy in workin**. That your petitioners recognise the benefits that will accure to the several districts through which the line is to pass, during the construction thereof, as well as the ultimate benefits to the Province at large when it is constructed. That your petitioners feel satisfied that greater and more immediate permanent local benefits would be derived, were the Government to let the formation of the line in lengths of one or two miles in each contract. That your petitioners are of opinion that the line would be more expeditiously and economically constructed, were the formation of the line begun at given points in the Clutha, Tokomairiro, and Taieri districts as well as at Dnnedin, and under the control of the Provincial Government. May it therefore please your honorable House to direct that the construction o: said line of railway he handed over to the control of the Provincial authorities, and that you may be pleased to facilitate the construction of the same, by providing tho necessary funds extending or enlarging the Provincial guarantee, as may be found necessary. And may it further pleise your honorable House that, in the event of your not consenting to the foregoing prayer, you will furnish the means and direct that the work may be mow vigorously proceeded with, and in the several districts referred to along the line. And your petitioners will ever pray. The petition to the Provincial Council was a copy of the foregoing, with the exception of the prayer which read as follows : — May it therefore please your honorable House to take the whole matter into your consideration, with the view of applying to the General Assembly of the colony to hand ovc' to the Provincial authorities the construction of said line of railway; failing thoir so doing, that your honorable House will be pleased" to support the views of your petitioners by resolution to be forwarded to the General Government. And your petitioners will ever pray. Mr B. Hibbard in seconding tho adoption of the petition, said, tint were tho money got at once, it would take at ioast 18 months before the tunnels through Look-out point and Saddle hill could be made. There was nothing to hinder the railway lino being commenced here and elsewhere, so that so soon as the tunnels were made the whole lino would be ready. Here we had quite as much right to participate in any benefits which accrue from railway works as they had in Dunedin . Mr J. S. Fleming moved—That copies of said petitions be forwarded for signature to Matau and Waihola, and when returned be handed to tha member of Assembly for Bruce, and one of the members of Provincial Council for presentation. Mr R. W. Capstick in seconding the motion pointed out, that if the railway were only carried 0:1 from one end, only one cla33 of men would be employed, and our surplus! population would receive no benefit It would also be done by large contractors who would 'supply their men with stores, and thus the formation of the railway would not be of the least benefit to the districts through which it passed. He therefore trusted the petition would be largely signed. Mr Marshall proposed the following resotution, which was seconded by Mr J Inglis .— " That the following gentlemen be appoint id a Committee to proenre signatures to the petitions, and take charge of them in the meantime :— Jas. Goodall, R W. Capstick, R. R. Jones, P.M'Gill, J Hislop, W. Grey (Waihola)? James Blue 3 (Gorge), Tao. Douglass (Waihola)," Afler a lengthened discussion in which M^ssre Dall, Houston, Marryatb, Poppelw ell G B. Brown, and J. L Gillies took part, and after, an amendment had baen proposed and withdrawn, th° above resolutions wereread and pub seriatim, when they wero carried unanimously. , A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings. J