THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9843, 28 September 1897, Page 5

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

-J_ CONFERENCE OF COMMITTEES. A Conference was held at the Chamber of Commerce last night, between the Railway Sectional Committees of the Chamber and the Industrial Association, on the question of the completion of the Midland Railway. Present—Chamber of Commerce, Messrs E. W. Roper (voted to the chair), W. Recce, A. Kaye and W. D. Mcares; Industrial Association, Messrs H. B. Kirk, A. G. Howland and A. H. Hanoock. Apologies were received for the absence of Messrs Scott and Allan. The Chairman said that the conference was in response to a letter received from the Industrial Association on the subject of the West Coast railway. Both the Chamber and the Industrial Association were agreed as to the necessity for the completion of the railway beiug pushed on, and it only remained for them to decide what steps should be taken towards that end. He had received a letter from Mr A. R. Guinness, M.H.R., who wrote on behalf of his constituents thanking the Chamber of Commerce for the interest taken in urging the completion of the Now Zealand Midland railway between the East and West Coast. ' The people of the West Coast thought that sufficient progress was not being made with J the work ; they behaved that, instead of ' the 200 men now employed, there should be at least 2000, so as to complete the work as speedily as possible. There was an I important fact in connection with the passenger traffic which he thought was overlooked, namely, that the present traffic was no indox to gauge the extent of traffic which would be carried when the line was completed. The opening of the section from Greymouth to Jackson's had already shown that the traffic betweeu the two coasts had beon increased. It had also to be borne in mind that there would be no ocean steamer competition. He, therefore, thought that the estimates of the passenger traffic had always been considerably below what might be reasonably expected- The Chairman observed in passing that it was rather a coincidence that a notice should that evening have been posted at the Post Office to the effect that the Springfield mail was delayed on account of the train having broken down. After discussion, it was resolved— On the motion of Messrs Meaßks and Kirk—" That this conference is of opinion that the delay in the completion of the railway to connect Canterbury with the West Coast is very unsatisfactory ; and that as the Government has proceeded with the construction of the line from Jackson's, and the Midland Railway Company has recognised the action of "the Government and paid the cost of such construction, this conference urges on the Government that the work should be proceeded with more rapidly than at present from Otarama as well as from Jackson's." On the motion of Messrs Howland and Kaye—-"That the Agricultural and Pastoral Association and Railway League be requested to appoint a Sub-Committee to confer with the joint Sub-Committees of the Chamber of Commerce and Industrial Association to further the construction of the Midland Bailway." On the motion of Messrs Hanoock and Rkjscje—"That the joint Committees interested in the construction of the Midland Railway ba formed into a General Committee with power to add to their number, and that the United Committee be called the Canterbury and West Coast Railway Committee." It was resolved to forward copies of the motion to the members of both Houses of the Legislature, and to write to the three members for Christchurch asking them to convene a meeting of all the members interested in the railway. The Conference then adjourned until Monday, October llth, at 7.30 p.m.