OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Evening Star, Issue 10903, 11 April 1899, Page 4

OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE.

A meeting of the Otago Central Railway League was held at the Chamber of Commerce last night, when there were present— Messrs W. Barron (chairman), J. Hazlett, J. Jolly, and Q. Howden. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Messrs G. L, Denniston, A. Bathgate, and T. K. Harty. Mr D. P. Sinclair, secretary of the Marlborough Land and Railway League, wrote forwarding a resolution to the effect that the League were of opinion that the time had arrived when the Government should at once adopt ft more progressive system of public works, and that the prospects of the colony quite justified a speedy completion of the main trunk railways in both islands. The League invited the co-operation of the Otago Central Railway League and other bodies in their effort to induce the Government to push forward the completion of the lines referred to.—Consideration of the matter was deferred until next meeting. Consideration of the foilowing_letter.from Mr John M'Kay, of Wedderburn, was also deferred till next meeting :—"I have to report that the works on the Ranfurly-Wed-derburn section of the line have progressed favorably since my last report in January, and, as I predicted then, the culverts on that section have all been completed. There are a few heavy cuttings about Eden Creek, which, I think, will be finished during next month. The latest cutting, and last on the section on the western side of Eden Creek, was started at the commencement of the present month, and has been fully manned up to date. As this is a very long cutting, and there is a deep embankment across Eden Creek, I am unable to give an idea of when it will be completed. The viaduct at Eweburn has not been started yet, and it is to be hoped this work will be put in hand soon. Re the Wedderburn-Ida Valley section, I have to state that a number of masons and laborers came up about ten days ago, and have been mostly quarrying stones tor the different culverts since. One party started in what is known as Messent Creek, to take out the foundation for a large culvert, but owing to the ground being of a pipe clay nature and very soft the engineer knocked them off for a time. I expect to see most of the culverts, and some of the cuttings, on this section in full work during the next month, and if so I will duly inform you of same."

It was resolved to invite the city and suburban members of Parliament to attend the next meeting of the League.