CATLIN RAILWAY LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 12166, 9 April 1904, Page 7

CATLIN RAILWAY LEAGUE

A meeting of the Catlin Railway League was held yesterday afternoon, Mr R. Chisholm (president) in the chair. • The Chairman explained that consequent upon a feeling that the League and the load Committee were not in proper touch with ono another, they had. at Mr M. Cohen's suggestion, sent Mr Brown, their agent, to Owaka and neighborhood, with the object of improving matters and stimu.lating interest. He called upon Mr Brown to read his report. Mr Brown's report was to the effect that his canvassing eflbrts and representations on behalf of the League had met with gratifying results, inasmuch as some sixty of the leading citizens and firms in Dunedin had been induced to become members of the League, and as an earnest of their interest and sincerity he might state that all subscriptions had been paid most, willingly. He felt assured that this number would be considerably augmented as the claims and aims of the League became better known. With regard to his visit to Catlins, on arrival at Owaka he interviewed several residents, amongst whom were Messrs Geddes, Sharp, Craig, and Findlater, all of whom he found warm supporters of the League's work. A very good suggestion was made, which was that the official opening of the railway to Ratanui might be made as publicly demonstrative as possible, that a member of the Government (Sir J. G. Ward was suggested) should be invited, and that the League, together with the Owaka and Papatowai members, should be asked to attend in force. Such an occasion, it was deemed, would be an appropriate and opportune one for approaching the Government representative in submitting .the League's claims for a commencemut of the next stage of the extension of the Catlins line. The line to Ratanui was almost finished, the only work that remained to be completed being the finishing touches to the ballasting. It was anticipated that the line would have been opened ere this time had it not been for the recent heavy floods, which covered that part of the bed of the river from which the ballasting material was being obtained. The railway station buildings at Ratanui were now well forward aid approaching completion. Considerable delay had taken place in the filling in of Hie land comprising the site, bv reason of the unexpected soft, muddy nature of the locality, a much greater "quantity of material being required in reclaiming "than was- at first calculated. It was stated that m all probability five or six weeks would elapse before the line could be opened and ready for public traffic. Mr Brown then went by coach to Papatowai—a distance of seventeen miles, which occupied about four hours to accomplish. The roads were both steep and heavy in places, and prettv rough throughout, demonstrating the great need for the substitution of a better mode of transit—to wit, a railway. The settlers here, and particularly those further back, were much to be sommiserated in their want of better transit facilities. At every stoppage of the coach to deliver mail matter he took the opportunity of speakim* to the settlers calling, and of dropping a word in due season, in fulfilment of his commission. It was at Tahakopa arranged that Hie secretary (Mr Martin) would iu future provide and forward a report for presentation at L-ach of the monthlv meetings of th° League. Mr Brown stated that he visited Tautuku Buy, where there was a valuable asset in the shape of a marine resort which was second to none on the coast. The bu*h skirting the beach was held bv a gentleman, who was being approaced bv one of our timber merchants, who wished to secure it. If the reserve were broken into or destroyed a great loss to the community vrould result He suggested that the league should try to prevent such a catastrophe. Everyone he met made him most welcome, and all the residents of the Catlins district were alive to the importance of the Leagues work, and would co-operate in any way. * mn.c The Chairman congratulated Mr Brown on Mr SSTfT*! ° f l iS tdp ' and asked Mr Craig (of Owaka, who was present) if he could supplement whaS Mr Brown had reported. Mr John Craig said that the success of the Owaka line was shown bv the fact that whereas they had only had'three trains a week when the line was first opened, the traffic had cow increased so that they had a daily tram, and on three days a week th=v had two trains. The same thing would result beyond Owaka, and he felt sure that if the railway were carried throutrh the traffic would more than- double, Wlien the Premier was in the district recently he had remarked the fact that there was 'so much timber there and no railway to get it out. The settlers must clear it,' and there was every necessity for the League to have the railway pushed on. He would do ail he could to assist them. Mr Moss urged the necessity for earnest co-operation between the League and the settlers. The Chairman pointed out that the scattered nature of the district made cooperative agitation between the settlers difficult, but if any member of the League went to the district, he would find the people most enthusiastic over the League's work. He pointed out that every effort was being made to have the line pushed on from the other end, and the League must bestir themselves or they might be left in the lurch. Mr Brown's experience had added to the conviction that the longer the line was delayed the more valuable property would be destroyed. There was great difficulty in obtaining suitable red pine in Dunedin just now, and there was a whole-sale slaughter of that timber going on in the Catlins district because it could not be got out. Mr Cohen put in a word for the wholeheartedness of the settlers, as evidenced by their behaviour when the Premier 'visited the district the other day. He, too, emphasised the need of energy, because the Invercargill people were doing their best to have the Seaward Bush line pushed on to the Catlins district. He could not understand the apathy of the commercial community of Dunedin when they knew that these things were going on about them. The welfare of Dunedin was largely bound up in the ; prosecution of this feeder line and the bringI ing down of the timber that was being burnt because the owners were forced to burn it to gain livelihoods for themselves and famiTho League should pass a resolution asking the Acting Minister of Public Works and Sir Joseph Ward to be present at the I official opening of the extension to Ratanui, i which would take pkee in May or early in j June. The best way to assist the settlers j in the back blocks was to get a survey of ! the extension to the valley carried out with- '■ out delay, and after Government had pro- : nounced as to the relative merits of the ; two routes to move Ministers to place a vote for the works on this year's Estimates and get the line pushed on. Mr Brown's report was adopted, and he was thanked for it. The Secretary (Mr Waters) stated that he i had been in communication with the PapaI towai Vigilance Committee through their secretary (Mr Martin), who had stated in a letter that bis Committee were not in possession of full information regarding the works and their progress, so he could not say much about them. It was Mr Martin's intention, however, to make arrangements for his Committee to send a representative each month to inspect the works, and keep ■ the Leajpie jposted as to the. jDrqacess made.

Mr Martin suggested that a netition asking for the further extension of the line should be prepared and signed throughout the district, and afterwards sent to Dunedin for approval. The Government had already promised to make a, preliminary survey of the route, and he understood that surveyors were now on the ground. He suggested that Mr Craig should act as the League's correspondent at Owaka, Mr Scott at TahaI kopa Valley, Mr Martin at Papatowai, and Mr Cooper at Ratanui.—AgTeed to. After some discussion as to the opening, the chairman undertook to see Mr Ussher and ascertain the earliest possible date when information regarding the opening of the line could be obtained. A meeting of Committee would then ce held, and arrangements made for the issue of invitations to the formal opening.