THE NELSON "GAP"

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 80, 1 October 1924, Page 11

THE NELSON "GAP"

COMPLETION OF SOUTH

TRUNK LINE

RAILWAY EXTENSION URGED.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

NELSON, 30th September.

The Nelson Provincial Progress League's delegation visited Murchison to confer with residents of that county on Saturday. It consisted of Messrs. W. J. Moffatt (president), E. E. Neale (secretary), F. G. Gibbs, F. J. Ledger, •Councillor Corder, and Mr. Philip Best (chairman of the Waimea. County Council). A flooded creek delayed the journey, but at Murchison the visitors were received by a large gathering. Mr. Monaghan (chairman of the Murchison County Council) welcomed the visitors, who were then driven to various parts of the district, and later held a.conference in the County Council Chambers, with a large number of representative settlers from all parts of the county and members of the Murchison Progress League, with a View to obtaining ail available data and information to place before the Govern.ment to induce it to accelerate the railway construction from Pikomami to Murchison and on to Inangahua Junction. Mr. E. 11. Neale (secretary of the Nelson League) reported that the Canterbury Progress League, when it visited Nelson district some years ago, had. reported _ favourably on the completion of the lino, but no definite pronouncement had boon made by that league on tha matter. Since- the Nelson League had_ formed it had devoted practically all its energies to tho completion of the railway. Tho Canterbury League was sending a, delegation to visit the district towards the end of October. In tho evening a. public meeting wa» held, and was largely attended. Mr. W. P. Doney (chairman of the Murchison Progress League) presided. Mr. F. G. Gibbs said that tho distance from Nehsou to Invercargill was 700 miles, with a 55-mila gap in tho railway. Now that the Otira, tunnel was completed, it was for them to bring reasons for filling the gap. Nelson could send fruit, tomatoes, other vegetables aiid chaff to the West Coaßt, and to Canterbury and Otago its surplus sheep (between 45,000 and 50,000 even now) thus adding 5s to. the value of each sheep. The chief traffic would be in sheep. Fruit would also go to Canterbury, and to all parts a large number of passengers .would be carried. The Hon. J. G. Coates had recently mentioned the introduction of the railway motor, which would do much to restore passenger traffic to the railways. If one were sent to Nelson, the motor would carry passengers to Glenhope to the advantage of th* Waimea County Council, which had to maintain the road. The suggestion that a good road in lieu of a railway should be constructed was a mistake. _ In the district to be opened up there were supplies o f timber, coal, and dairy produce. Case and other timber would be sent from the West Coast. The scenic attractions would draw a j large number of passengers. Production would be increased as the result of low freightage on manures. There were 350,000 sheep in Waimea, Takaka, and Colhngwood. A great quantity of fruit, and tomatoes were now wasted because thoy could not be shipped at the right time. Low freights to Murchison would assist settlement .in every way. So far as this Island was concerned, on the east coast there-were 88 miles to complete as against 55 miles from Glenhope The P°iVq mTtt th 9 Nol3On W'™ £1,469,000, but th* cost of tho east coast section was £2,176,000—a difference of £707,000. Mr. F. I. Ledger, a surveyor, gave details of the large area of land awaiting further development. Nelson imported 15,000 tons of produce annually for,the1 south, and if tho railway were build a considerable portion of tliis would be carried. Mr. Ledger then presented to the meeting a number of copies of a plan he had prepared of the Murchison district, showing the areas available for dairying purposes. After careful investigation and consultation .he had prepared _ estimates of actual ' and potential dairying land in tho Murchison district totalling 18,600 acres, of which lie gave details. Ho felt sure it would pay Marlborough to connect up with tho West Coast, via Wairau Valley, when tho gap was filled, rather than press for the East Coast lino. Marlborqugh and Canterbury both produced sheep and grain, and would havo little to exchange, and connection with tho West Coast would benefit both places. Several speakers then referred to the mineral resources of the country affected, especially coal'j in the Owen Valley, of good household ' quality; limestono and murblo (at Murchison and Marina). Mr. Fry, formerly Director of the School of Mines at Westport and Reefton, said there was much unexplored country in tho county, and it had a mineral belt running through it with four out of livo of tho great ore-bearing rocks. Thoy had absolute proof that the minerals existed there. Tho structure of the country was very promising so far as an oilfield was concerned. There were seepages of oil and indications of natural gas in the district. He considered the oil prospects were very good.

Mr. Roberts said most of the land in the district was the Government's own property, and tho Government would itself benefit by the construction of the line. It would pay them to bo liberal with roads and railways. Mr. Fraser (county clerk) added that 30 per cent, of the occupied portion of the county belonged to tho Crown.

Tho chairman said Mr. Ledger's estimutes of areas were low. Tha actual carrying capacity of the district was not really known. Tho results of manuring with lime had been remarkable. There were valuable coal and timber resources which, if developed, would mean an influx of workers and an increase in the population. There were splendid streams in Murchison for fishing, and great possibilities for water power. The scenic attractions were also strong. The president of £he Nelson" League (Mr. W. J. Moffatt) explained the constitution of the league, which was representative of the local bodies and contributed to by them to the extent of Is for every £1000 of valuation. He paid a tribute to the "work done by Messrs. Gibbs and Ledger. He considered that as so much money had already been spent on tho lino it was essential In complete it as early as possible-, in order that it could bo made to pay. Nothing less than five miles a year would satisfy the Nelson League. That the Government owned 80 per cent, of the land in Murchison waa of great importance j it showed that the Government would benefit most by the railway extension.

Before leaving for Nelson next day the visitors were taken to Matiri to see the result of lime-dressing on experimental plots of laud, under the instructions and advice of Professors Rigg and Easterfield, of the Cawthron Institute. Excellent results were obtained. From Uiere the visitors were driven to Hraeburn, where they wcro impressed with the amount of open country available for settlement. A visit was nlsri paid in Ui« uj>-.W^Utj Imitei' Iwtsvy. iv W.urcjjjijo.u,