WAIAU RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14325, 10 April 1912, Page 7

WAIAU RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Tho Waiau Railway League met on Thursday evening last, there being a food attendance'of members. Mr F. 'osier presided. . - ' Tho secretary reported regarding the deputation to"the Hon. D. Buddo at tho Show, and tho Executive's interview with Mr James Allen. jjoth of these gentlemen havo promised active support. Tho report was adopted, and Colonel R. A. Chaffey thanked for the thorough manner in which he had shown Colonel James Allen, M.P., over tho district.

Tho secretary was instructed to for.ivard to Mr Haninor Atkinson, of Woodbank, a letter expressing the Leaguo's appreciation and heartiest thanks for his action in motoring the Ministerial party to catch tho Christchurch express. Tho matter of securing tho support of the Canterbury Progress League was discussed at length, and it was unanimously decided to forward the following resolution :—"That tho Waiau Railway League, recognising tho immense benefit tho Progress League will be to Christchurch and Canterbury, and the weight and influenco of its opinion, does respectfully urge that it •will take up the matter of the Culvcr-den-Waiau Railway, and assist tho Waiau settlers in securing their muchneeded railway facilities, which will confer a great and lasting benefit on the community of Amuri, and will bo of material assistance to tho advancement of Canterbury province. The Railway League considers that with the sympathy and active support of such "an influential organisation tho railway will speedily become an accomplished fact." It was also decided that the League would mako arrangements to lay the whole of tho facts Before the Canterbury League should that body deem it necessary, and to ask whether the Leaguo could appoint a representative on the body in Christchurch. The following resolution was carried, •with instructions that it be forwarded to the Prime Minister:—"That the Waiau Railway Leaguo desires to offer tho Honourable Thos. Mackenzie heartiest congratulations npon his elevation to the rank of tifie Premiership of the Dominion of New Zealand. It also desires to remind him of his visit to the Waiau district twelve months ago and of his remarks favourable to the Waiau railway extension on that occasion. It draws his atten-i tion to tho fact that his late colleague, Sir J. G. Ward,-promised to commence the work of construction at the end of the present financial year, now drawing to a close, and to the Hon. R. McKonzie's intention of having tho preliminary survey -work put in hand shortly. " The League thereforo requests that he (the Premier) will confer fcvith his colleague, the Hon. W. D. S. Macdonald, Minister of Public Works, ■with a view to having these matters put under way." Tho secretary was instructed to •n-rite to the Hon. W. D. S. Macdonald, Minister of Public Works, cordially inviting him to come up to the Waiau and inspect the route of tho railway, and the district generally. It was resolved to invite the Hon. George Laurenson to accompany him on his tour of the district, and to meet and address the settlers. It was decided to request the local branch of the Farmers' Union to forward a remit. regarding the railway extension to the Provincial Conference, and to intimate that tho League would send delegates to lay their representations before the Conference.