ANOTHER PUBLIC MEETING AT KAIAPOI.

Press, Volume XII, Issue 1578, 27 November 1867, Page 2

ANOTHER PUBLIC MEETING AT KAIAPOI.

Kaiapoi is fast becoming notorious for its public meetings, and on Monday evening last a most important one was held at the usual meeting house—the Kaikainui concert-room— for the purpose of taking into consideration the best mode of improving the interior communication of the north, and though no one seemed to be aware by whom or on what authority the meeting was called, it was-very' largely and influentially attended by residents in the Mandeville and other Northern districts. The attendance was numerous, bat there were barely half-a-dozen in the whole room who were aware of what would be proposed, though of course many had their surmises that the question to be brought forward would be that of opening out the Great North-western Railway. Among the number present we noticed none of the representatives of the district except Mr J. E. Brown, the member for Rangiora, who occupied the chair. On taking the chair, Mr Brown said he did \ so at the urgent request of several present at the meeting. He was unaware of its intentions, and simply to assist in getting over the difficulty he had consented to take up his present position. Mr Dobbs seeing so many present, and no clear programme before the meeting, said he should open the ball by moving—" That the inhabitants of tho Northern district feeling the great want of direct communication with tne centres of Christchurch and Lyttelon, wish to ascertain from the Government, through his Honour the Superintendent, what stepß they are likely to take towards the formation of the railway in the Northern district." He knew that the resolution to some might appear like tossing the apple of discord into their midst, as there were, ho knew, some not at all in favour of this line of railway. All they wanted was something to be spent in the Northern district, which hitherto had been sorely uegleoted. [Hear,

hear, and cheers ] A commencement of the Northern railway w&s wanted, and it could he thought be carried out at n cheap and ir lPx . p-muvo rate. [JT.Mir, h.-o- ] i h.-v did ,', ,[ want mud, 5 ,i,...d —[ V V..ic : 'What's f i lfl u«o of railways without speed ""j-_H„, v Wiuit 1( j a degree of certamtv to be connected 'with the transit of ;hmr goods to tho fort or to Christchurch.

\ir. J. Keetley seconded tho motion, winch tths put ami carried.

The Chairman rend tho followh" letter tn tin? meeting : — " ,0

" To the Chairm-.in of the meeting at Iv.iupoi held \'or the purpose of forwarding !V pj,,,',' ' method of e.irrving goods and pa*,,.,,,,„,. from C'hriMehureh northwards hjK.iupoT "Sir. —T have to lav before the mwii,,/, ' news on the above object : • "First-I' propose. for your adoption M.airn-. a.system of horse ami steam-traction tramway combined.

"Second-The gauge of tlii« trnmwav to conform with that of the Government raih m that where the increased irulllc warrant,, th' outlay f.»r loeomotire plant, by simply tuting the rad for locomotives, the fust spend nny be obtained, and those that huve be-. m>e I in Cuirni's system relaid in more *■».,!! inlmhitr-.i districts. -*ar.tly

"Third— My system requires not purchas ing of plant, but simply adapts itself to ths waggons and drays now in Use . These by having their axles to one gauge, avoid'the outlay of new or imported plant. Cobb's largest coaches can be used as they now a»e when gauged. ««Fourth—My system can be carried out by the rails being laid on each side of the present main road, allowing the present metalled road way in the centre to be used by those who" from convenience locally situated, fi„ c | j t .' their benefit to use it. •Fifth—The expense for a double line wou'd be £1500 a mile. "Sixth —Passengers could be carried atone penny a mile, and goods at threepence m i| e per ton, and out of these rates pay the Q OF . eminent or others who constructed the ban" way a very large return for interest— the exact amount I could not at present name '• Seventh—The line could bo put in operation in nine months. It requires no engineering or law expenses or land buy in*. The Road Boards once giving their consent the roadway could be proceeded with at once, as the iron way can be procured in tho colonies. No doubt need be entertained on this part of the scheme. " Eighth—The speed at which goods and passengers can be carried would he ten miles an hour/but I believe it could be safely increased to fifteen miles an hour, 'Ninth —Should the meeting resolve to move the Provincial Government to have thia system put to the test, lam prepared at my own cost to exhibit my system in actual work and prove that my statements are true, and shall defend the same against all comers, " Tenth—l am prepared, in conjunction with an eminent contractor, to construct and lay down " Cairns's system of tramways," and work the same in manner set forth— passage being provided over White's bridge to Kaiupoi free.

" I send this document through my agents Messrs Birch and Co., through whom I may be communicated with.

" I have to bo, &c, "Ai/bxandeb Caibns." Tho reading of this letter appeared to excite some little amusement.

. Mr Hall thought it seemed as though no , one intended to sppak on the subject before , the meeting. It would be his first attempt at , a political speech if he did so. He was inclined to move an amendment to the resolution, which however he could not do. Ho , should however move —" That the letter just t read be respectfully declined." It was a shot in the camp from the eneruy. He thought there was an intention to set the meeting aside, on the ground that the members of the district were not present, and there was other evidence of opposition being shown to tho objects of the meeting. When he wag at the agricultural show in Christchurch some days ago, the meeting was suggested to him by Mr Koetley, who said that one ot two Kaiapoi people had seen his Honour tha Superintendent, and that he had suggested that something should be done for the good of Kaiapoi. Since then Mr Dobhs had asked him what ho thought of calling a meeting about the matter, and he expressed his approval of that course. He was not competent to discuss tho several reasons why a railway ought to be oommenced, or why sums placed on the estimates for the work had not been expended ; this he should leave persons dealing with such matters to explain. The South Railway had been begun, and in the Northern districts the people had cried out that their railway ought to have the preference. Against this it had beon urged that the railway was more required in the south, as more grain was produced than in the north. This might be so, but the population of the north outnumbered that of tho south; and the traffic of the North ro id he knew was very great. [Hear, hear, and cheers.] It had been applied for, and the question ought to have been discussed some timo ago. It was all very well for the merchants and storekeepers on the river, and connected with tho river, to oppose the question of a rnilway, but he felt, sure that all the farming -interests in the district were concerned in the Northern railway. [Loud cheers]. He knew he was right in what he said from tho number who represented that class in the present meeting. It had been urged that t;he receipts would not warrant tho outlay j that could not however be told till the tnatfor had been entered into. The farming interests were the foundation of the province, and if their requirements could be met they would be the best able to appreciate such undertakings. If farmers brought their produce to Kaiapoi to sed they only had a chance of selling at a less price perhaps than they would do if there was sufficient competition with other purchasers who would be brought together by the railway. He also noticed the reduction in the fares of late by the coaches between Kaiapoi and Ohristo urch, and tha possibility that they might be cheaper and tho journey performed more expeditiously by tha railway, while goods required by consumers would also be purchased more cheaply. The time occupied in sending goods to Port by the river entailed serious loss of time, and probably in some instances property, which would be avoided in the case of a railway; while the journey .of. goods to Lyttelton by rail he thought might be as easily done in as many hours as it now took days to perform. If these arguments failed, and they did not get £10 000, £20,000, or £40,000 spent in the district, they might complain of grievous neglect. But he could see in the horizon, and by the publio papers, that money was floating about, and it would soon come to their turn , to get some of it. [Loud cheers ] His Honour theSuperintendent ascended tho platform, and was loudly cheered. He wea in duty bound to respond to an invitation sent him by a gentleman residing in the district to attend the meeting. The gentleman referred to. knew a good deaJLof public opinion, and after formally eonanlting-with his Executive he (the speaker) had "decided to attend, and he was pleased at having done so, and to assist them, whether in a railway scheme or a scheme for cleaning out the river. [Hear, hear.] lie was not, however, present to cot' rect official mistakes, or render any immaterial statement, and were he required to do so that was hardly the place for it. In his capacity of chief officer of the province ho was not present to explain their intended actions. Ha acted on the advice of the majority of hi* Executive, and when he could not conscientiously do so he must appeal to the country. The country was at present in a healthy state, and every member of the Provincial Council was doing his best he believed to alleviates the existing distress. It was for the population to assist ulso, for social prosperity de« pended on hard work and self-denial. With reference to what his.Government were going to do, it was not to be understood that they were secreting some kind of policy to explode on a sudden when they thought fit, and upset and disconcert all sorts of affairs. We lived under, a Constitution, and he was the head of tho Executive elected after a constitutional form, but that did nob affeot tho expression of h%

Trmtrern apart from"'those not, aaainst them. In ?^fiO"hi* opinions were puhli-he.l, und they g—thnr" the"wh.«la" province should he into ono harbour. Ife thonglit the Government ought to arrange matre.-a so that , pro tluc*3 of the farms should be carried I the most speedy process to tho Port reheers], a'" l ir wtts vvit!l tilis Tio,;v tlvir tllP t nnel had been begun and carrier] out ; hi'le at iC mmc t ' me il Wfl3 on! - v t,,e beainning of the end, an 1 in order to obtain the end "it *oul<l he necesg-iry to open out i„n« to such an extent, that they would draw Plans iv °" i -• i i_ the produce to the vessels in harhour. A nroposal had been read by the Cha-mian from eentlernsin who meant well for himself, nnd a a well fitted to lay schemes before the meeting.- Work of such a nature would be best teft t0 tne who wee chosen by die people themselves. Tf th-ir schemes turned out bally, the people could only biatne themselves for such faults, [•'"'beers] Shortly there vroulrl, he thought, be n b*lancof roonev for the -viMic which, on th--assembling of the Com<-il. would be applied for io t'" 9 direction and th»t direction for all fcinds of purposes, and their worthy chairman, as usual, would be quite ready on such an occasion with objects chiming attention in this respect. [Cheers and laughter.] H-' (the speaker) was in favour of seeing tru: k jines carried where necessary, and ho could not agree with the idea that some had, that {bey might be used for a variety of purposes In all probability, when the Council met, they would consider some means of making a cheap railway to Kaiapoi, but that would not make Kaiapoi a great town. When contesting an election with Captain Beswick some years ago for the seat of the town in the Provincial Council then vacant, he stated Kaiapoi would never be a great city, but that it would always be a respectable town, supplying the necessities of a Umited agricultural area A means of export was wanted ; they had the produce, but not the best means of conveying it away. The prosperity of the district depended on their population and industry, and being enabled to get a fair equivalent for their work. How were they to support the population and find them work ? By extending their territory by means of the railway, at least so as to bring them near the centre of trade. At that time, while this was going on not only the country would be extended but the towns would be steadily increased. How was produce to be made use of while it could only be exported Ht a price unable to compete with other marker*? By cheap transit; and though being able to travel quickly was of great importance, yet in view of the question of certain transit it was immaterial so far as goods and produce would be affected; but, at the same time be it remembered that the railway train, under any circumstances, would travel more expeditiously |

than any other mode of conveyance, and with more certainty. If only a halfpenny per bushel on grain was gained by the farmer

through pending his grain by railway instead of by any other means, he would not only save go much but be able to rely on its getting to the market at the pre per time. It should also be borne in mind that dispatch in business was a great matter, and that in business time was the essence of profit. The population of Canterbury at that moment was about 60,000 souls, and in proportion to their increase would the resources of the country require to be developed. People in some instances went

off with the idea that the Government charged

high for their rail ways, but he mustremind them that Government must act as a straining-post ugainst merchants crying out about the price of conveyance on goods, and the general public against the rate of fares for passenger traffic ; but it was better to hold out thaj go to bankruptcy. Thus the Government had to see that they got a return for their outlay Before long whoever might rule in New Zealsnd would see it in time well served by railways," and travelling might then be accomplished at a rate of twopence per mile. He was alive to the fact that he had to act as a trustee of the people's interest, and would always act as advised by his Executive. There were rumours of changes in the colony. He

believed tho Constitution to be the best in the world i£ the inhabitants only took advantage

ot.it, for it was without exception the best Constitution he had ever read. [Cheers : Cries of "Yes, yes," "No, no."] His experience in the Legislature was Buch that he believed that unless Canterbury took some action in common with the other provinces while they had power to dictate conditions on which their future government should be carried on, they would be allowed to go on a« at present, till overcome by a slow poison they would be compelled to take whatever the General Assembly might them He was in favour of sticking to one thing, and that was the saving of their inheritance by such laws as would be best for its being rendered most useful. He should very much like to see provirtces entrusted with their waste lands and they ought to be secured to them. At present he had no seat in the Assembly, and what he had just said ;KBi simply an expression of his opinion. If the existence of the provinces were in his

hands, like the commander of a ship •with a

wind ahead and a rock at the bows, a heavy sea rolling behind, and a sandspit under her stern, with a freight of valuable cargo, he

should make for the softest place in the sand to save his cargo and crew. [Cheers ] The North Island was looking at their land revenue [a laugh], which if not attended to would be irrecoverably lost. He should have been better pleased if he had known who had called the meeting; but if it was desirous that the matter suggested should be taken up, he hoped a second meeting would h* held, and that the Chairman would report the resolutions passed to the Government in an official manner, by which means the proposal would fairly claim the attention it deserved. He and' hiV Executive were much pleased to hear of *the loans being sanctioned by the General Assembly, and so soon as they could the North Would participate with the other portions of thq.province in its benefits ; and this was but a beginning of what would follow. The tunnel would found for itself a commercial enterpri.-e and by its enterprise would find for itself a trade almost sufficient to enable Canterbury 4j compete successfully with Australia, with tue advantage of being able to produce and •Xoort with equal cheapness. Mr Newnham thought the meeting wns of lime practical use. As communication with the Port and Christchurch and Kaiapoi was required, he moved—"That this meeting respectfully urge on their representatives in the Council the desirability of impressing on the Government the necessity of affording to the inhabitants of the Northern district speedy and effectual communication with Christchurch and Lyttelton, whether by railway or 0 herwise."

ilr Woodford, in a speech of some length, seconded the resolution. Mr Williscraft spoke on the motion, urging the.advisability of using the " quick penny " la preference to the " alow twopence." Mr Lock wished to see the words " or other*»e," and " whether," struck out of the resolution, which was carried with the amendment. .Mr Wilson thought had the meeting been on the evfr of an election there would have oeen plenty of representatives of the districts present instead of but one. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, and three cheers for his Honour, terminated the meeting, wn i c h was adjourned for a fortnight