RAILWAY MEETING AT TAURANGA.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4263, 28 March 1879, Page 3

RAILWAY MEETING AT TAURANGA.

[Press Special Wire.] lattbANQA, March 27. A crowded public meetingtras held here last night for the purpose of advocating a district railway. .. ; '■ ■ Mr Gallibran mov'd the first resolution, viz., '■ That in the opinion of this meeting tho time has arrived when Ohinemutu, Tanranga, and Katitati should be provided with railway communieetion with Auckland via the Thames or "Waikafej." The speaker urged the meeting to be unanimous. They no longer wanted to be isolated, but. to. have direct eommunicatioa with other centres, and more especially with the Hot lakes, which ought to be the sanitorium of the World. In bringing Jthe projected, railway before the Government, it ought to be pointed out that it i 3 a public duty that eney communication should be male with them. Mr Redmond proposed , a resolution tfcat tfce railway to Tn»me3 would send atfay all the country trade and leave the "place a desert. Kβ moved as an amendment—" That this meeting is of opinion fh-.t a railway from. Tauranga to the Thames would be detriscental to the former by sending-its countrytrade direct to the Thames and Auckland, and recommend instead one from Taorangd to Obineiaittn." Messrs Bhodes and I'odell deprecated showing animus againet the Thames. Mr Vesy Stewart, Ohinemutu line enkeised Mr iMacandrew, who would, he vaa em-e, help the i*oject. He said

that ia there.-night be rmanhnitybe would it'be pointed ont to thb Government that it would be advisable te construct that portion of the line between Ohinemuta and Taumnga in the first place.'Mr Bedraor-d withdrew his amendment in favor of Mr Stewart's. The first resolution was adopted and passed, when Mr A. E. Whitaker movel—-'That in the opinion of the meeting a railway passing through Te Puke and other is of the first importance to tbe Tauranga district, and that it woald be unwise and impolitic to urge the Government to take steps for the inauguration of any work until this all-important- object shall have been obtained." Thia -was carried by acclamation, though Mr Stewart begged that they might not go before the country as a divided meeting. - Mrß C. Jordan then proposed that a committee be formed to represent the wishes of the community to the Government, and to further by all possible mean s theTauranga and Botorua railway. Such committee to consist of the member of the House of Representatives, the chairmen of the various district boards, and Mr Whitaker, with power to add to their number." This was carried.