OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Evening Star, Issue 9699, 7 May 1895, Page 4

OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE.

The monthly meeting of the above body was held last night; present—Messrs W. Barron (in the chair), G. Fenwick, J. Gore, J. Carroll, A, C. Stronach, C. H. Chapman, C. S. Reeves, G. Denniston, J. .folly, and J. Neil. Messrs 1). Pinkerton and A. Morrison, M.H.R.s, were also present.

Mr John Roberts tendered his resignation as one of the Executive, as he would be absent from the colony for some time.—lt was suggested that Mr Roberts should be given leave of absence, but, on the chairman pointing out that that was not the writer’s request, it was agreed to allow the letter to stand over for an indefinite time. The Chairman nuntioned that as the first Monday was inconvenient to two members of the Executive it might be as well to meet on some other night.—On the motion of Mr Core, seconded by Mr Carroll, it was resolved to meet in future on the second Monday in the month. The Under-Secretary for Public Works wrote, in reply to a resolution of the League, that the vote of Parliament authorised expenditure to be carried on until the 30th June, provided the sum voted was not exceeded ; but all expenditure after the 31sb March was included in the expenditure to be approved by Parliament in the ensuing session. [The full text of this reply has already been published.]—Mr Jolly said the letter seemed to contradict the previous replies from the Premier.—Mr Core observed that Mr Seddon had not stated that the money expended after the 31st March would have to be revoted, but simply said it would carry them on to the 30lh June, which was quite true.—The Chairman thought it was of no use reopening that matter now that the 31st March was past, but it.might be of interest to the League to get the state of the vote now that the 31st of March had gone by, and perhaps Mr Pinkerton and Mr Morrison would assist them in that respect.—Mr Morrison asked what advantage was to be gained.—The Chairman: Just to show how the expenditure has kept pace with the vote. Mr Morrison asked what advantage it wa°, if the expenditure was going on at the same rate now as prior to the 31st March, whether there was £10,009 unexpended or £4,000 or £3,000 so long as the Government were prosecuting the work vigorously.—The Chairman : Only that e\ ery shilling after the 31st March must come out of next year’s vote.— Mr Morrison : We must see that next year’s vote is big enough. (Hear, hear.)— The Chairman remarked that Mr Cadman, when interviewed by a deputation from the League, said that the vote for next year would probably be the same as that for last year. If, however, there was a larger amount carried forward this year the line must suffer if the authorisation was the same.—Mr Morrison aaid there would be a smaller amount of public works fund to distribute in the new appropriation.—Mr Pinkerton thought the best way was to consider the liability as spent, and see how much more they could get -added to it. That was the view he had always taken and would take.

The Chairman' said that, as directed by the last meeting, a pamphlet containing the report of the newspaper interview with Signor Bragato upon the fruit-growing pos-

sibilities of Central Otago had been published, and Signor Bragato’s lecture to the Chamber of Commerce seemed to be so interesting that he had ordered 2,000 copies of it, for enclosure in -the pamphlets. The secretary had forwarded copies of the pamphlet to each member of the Legislature and to the principal newspapers throughout the colony. Copies had also been sent to the branch leagues, with a request that they would state how many they wished placed at ■ their disposal. The - chairman also said that during • the visit of Mr Cadman to Dunedin a deputation from the League brought under his notice the desirability of having the material for the railway bridge across the Taieri ordered from Home beforehand, as it would take twelve months from the time the order was given before the material could be on the ground, and Mr Cadman was good enough to promise to lay the matter before his colleagues.—Mr Morrison asked how long, at the present rate of progress, it would be before the line was taken to the site of the bridge.—The Chairman said it was estimated that tlje vote in process of expenditure would take the line to Ryan’s Crossing, which was not so far from the bridge.