LAWRENCE-ROXBURGH RAILWAY.

Evening Star, Issue 14038, 20 April 1909, Page 3

LAWRENCE-ROXBURGH RAILWAY.

INDIGNATION MEETING IN 1 DUNEDIN. A. GREAT CROWD AT THE TOWN HALL. • THE PREMIER TO BE INTERVIEWED. The meeting of citizens called by the Mayor of Ounedin (Mr J. APDonald) for last night at the Town "Hall was verv largely attended, the chamber being crowded. Messrs J. Bennetts, R. M. C. M’Phail, T. Andrew, W. Kinaston, and W. Craig represented the Roxburgh fruitgrowers. —The Mayor’s Arguments.— The Mayor, who presided, said that he had' received the following replying telegram from Sir Joseph Ward “I am very much obliged for your courtesy in advising me of intended meeting. The Government will he very pleased to consider any representations the meeting may make.” There was also a telegram from Mr J. F. Arnold, M.P. ; “Deeply regret not being able to be present at meeting to-night. Crust that all interests in Dunedin will join in strongest possible protest against stoppage of Lawrence-Roxburgh Railway. Would like to see monster meeting in Garrison Hall. Time has arrived for Otago to rise as one man to see that justice is done to province. I trust to have support of all Otago members next session, independent of party, in bringing pressure on the Government." Mr A. E. Tapper sent a letter in which he said that " when the City has a bona fide grievance of this kind it is well not to treat the matter too gin gerly.” Mr W. Barron, in his letter' of apology, said: " Surely nothing has since the railways were sanctioned by Ministers and frequently advocated by them. ’ Mr G. L. Denniston wrote that one of the most salient arguments against the stoppage of the railway was the in-j justice to those who. with the prospect of the railway assured, had invested in lands, orchaids, etc., along the route. There was also a telegram from Mr A. S. Malcolm, M.P., worded thus; “I am strongly opposed to construction of Lawrence‘-Rox-nur«:h Railway. Will an opportunity be given me as an Otago member of stating why to-night.'” He (the mayor) received that telegram that afternoon, and he telephoned to Balclutha conveying a message. u : Xlr Malcolm received, that lie thought it would be very unwise to allow a member of Parliament to make his protest at a meeting called to promote the work (applause)—and he deemed that, as the man who was to preside at the meetmg, he had a right to send that message.— (Applause.) As there were others in attendance who knew more about the lino than he did, he would simply open the meeting by saying a few words. He hoped that no one would import political feeliucinto the preceding. Knowing Sir Joseph Ward as he did, he knew that that rentlemati would not stoop to anything that would rob Otago for the sake" of feeding Southland. In. regard to this railway line the interests of Dunedin and Roxburgh were one, since Dunedin had felt the want of railways into the back country for some time; therelore it behoved the citizens of Dunedin to see that justice was done and promises carried out. Mr Seddon promised that the line.should be pushed on, and as a result of that promise a number of people of small means bought lands and opened up orchards. The Government now said that one reason whv the line was to be stopped was that the Otago Central did not pay. But that line had been exposed to a great deal of damage from fiTUnrs and floods, hence the large expendituro m upkeep. If it had not been for these things the Otago Central would have paid a great deal more interest. However even if the Otago Central did not pav! that was r,o argument why the Roxburgh Railway should be stopped—(Hear, heard According to the present announcement' the seven and a-half miles already constructed was to be supplied witli two' intermediate stations and opened. This was the poorest part of the district. It would be judicious and more payable if the tunnel were pierced than- to build any further portion of any railway in Otago or Southland. He was pleased that as mavor it became his duty to call a meeting to protest against this breach of faith to the people of Roxburgh and the people of Dunedin. He thought it might be wise it a strong committee were formed in conjunction with the delegation from Eoxnmgh and Moa Flat and other places, and the Dunedin members of the Committee mighty see the line of the railway. This Committee could collect evidence" and if they could prove that the line would be !n ri P a - V he" did not see what excuse he Government could give for hanging up the work any longer. The been _ made that the Government should appoint a Royal Commission to inquire as to the prospects, but it might be well for our own people to collect the evidence 3n older to have it exact. Mr Dugald MTherson, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said he had to leave on business, and intimated that he was in full sympathy with any resolutions*' lifrely to be put to the meeting. —The Words of a Strong Man.— Mr James Allen, ALP., who was received with cheers, spoke with force and fervor. In the course of his strong sneech he said that he did not hesitate to say there and then what he would sav in Paf. Lament. He had never doubted"the railway from its start, and he had no doubt now, because he believed in the possibilities of the railway, as an aid-a tremendous aid-to close settlement.—(Applause.) He had travelled through the district, and inquired from those living there as to what ■sort of living they made and upon what area ot ground they lived. “I say to this Ai e ie tlng ‘< y f , Dl,nf ; din P e °ple.” said Mr Allen, _ if they have their eves open to the neighboring country, and Roxburgh is _a neighboring country—if they have their eyes open to the possibilities‘of that country, it will be a gross crime on their part to let any opportunity pass for furthermg a project which will open that country for settlement."-(Loud applause.) en^ On T> t0 c Say , that on ten a «es of land in the Roxburgh district a man could tn “ fp L a , good llvin 8 In an industry than which there was no other that could more strongly recommend itself to him. The healthy of fruit-growing commended itself to him from a humanitarian point of view, if from no other point of v,e V- . helle . ved U was one of the finest and healthiest industries to be got Such industries were required in the Dominion and such fruit was needed for our daily sustenance. Too much meat was eaten and it would be better to have more Rqxburgh fruit—(Laughter.) It could not be . got without a railway. That was the whole essence of the thing. Referring to * the talk about making railways pay Air Allen said • “T do believe that this railway will pay handsomely. It may not pay at once but in a few years it w'ill pay handpomely. (Applause.) But if we are to come to the question of railways paying I want to know why this railway should be picked out. If even- branch" railway has to pay 3 per cent., let us have a royal commission to inquire into the position of railways, and if any railway is not going to pay o pe r cent let the work be stopped I take it that that is not the jiolicy. I cannot understand why this railway is I We never heard of " any ‘ rrmnt T on that account. It is for something more than 5 per cent that the railway is wanted-. It IS. for settlement, hr healthy lives for our inducing close settlement in a district fitted for close settlement that the railway ls wanted. I look to it being a great exporting district. I hope before I die jo see the Roxburgh district one of he greatest districts m New.Zealand.”'Applaud.) He knew what he was talking about. He asked everyone who could to go and see what was being done, and if they had eyes to see and ears to hear thev would learn the possibilities of that district.. He went on to emphasise the extent md value of these possibilities throughout he district, and explained that they were lot to imagine• that: the best part "of the

district dropped into the Edievale side of the .valley. Some of the best part of Aloa Flat Estate dropped- naturally into the Clutha Valley. The railway that would tap Roxburgh would tap a great deal of oa dGat Estate. “If you are to be led astray as to a railway coming from Edievale tapping the valley satisfactorily,” said Air Allen, “you are following after an idle dream. It cannot be done for th© same money as a railway, from ■ Lawrence can be made.” He emphasised the need of visitors going to the top of the hills to see the real resources of the district before passing judgment. He was going up to the district this week to make a closer inspection of it. (Applause.) He would like the Minister of Railways, when he came here, to visit the district" Someone had misled the Alinistry in regard to the country. If the Government were misled, as they were over Aloa Flat Estate, which was better than they thought, perhaps they were misled as' to the higher country, which was every bit as good in some instances as Aloa Flat. This country was all opened for settlement, but development was prevented because there were no means of communication. The produce was being tied up. The fruit of the district required rapid transit to the markets. Nearly all the fruit travelled from Edievale right away round to come to Dunedin. And we sit still. If the people of Otago were loyal to themselves, loyal to their district, this thing ought not to be allowed. “I ask everyone that is here, man and woman, to stand by one another to prove to the Alinistry the great possibilities of the railway. That is what we have to do. It is no political question. We must prove to the Alinistry that this railway is a justifiable railway, that it will ultimately pay, and pay well. Then all this embargo now {iut on this railway will be removed. We want it removed as early as possible.—(Applause.) It was not a particle of good to metal the line and run trains along it. What will it be if that is carried out? It will only show that the railway will not pay. I wonder whether that is* why it is being done. It won’t tap the fruit at all. Ihe fruit will still go by Edievale, and the produce is still going that way. I would rather not see any metal or railway station go on the line at all. Put the money that would go into the metalling and railway stations into the tunnel, and get the line through to Beaumont, and then we will see whether this railway is going to pay, and whether the people in that district are willing to back the rest of the line. I tell you from my knowledge of the district that if the railway once goes through the district the people a£ Roxburgh are \rilluig to back the rest of the line. I believe they are willing to put their hands into their own pockets to back the line.—(Loud applause.) AVe shall see. I ask everyone to join hands loyally, as Otago men and women have always stood by one another—l ask every man and woman to stand by us in this instance. Let us see this thing through. Join heartily hand in hand to prove that our case is good and can honestly be recommended. I honestly recommend it. If I could not honestly."l wo'ild not. I feel I can and shall recommend it. Loyalty to Otago,- loyalty to Dunedin, loyalty to the Roxburgh district, ought to be our watchword.”—(Loud applause.) —The Alain Resolution.— Air A. Bathgate moved the principal resolution, which read as follows:—.“ That this meeting of Dunedin citizens consider that the Government, in slopping the work upon the Lawrence-Roxburgh Railway—for the reason that it would prove unpayable—acted without due consideration, seeing that the work was only undertaken after the _ fullest investigation of the resources oi the districts to be tapped had been made; consequently the reason given by the Ministry is not substantial, and this meeting call upon the Government to immediately reconsider their decision, and if necessary sot up a Commission to inquire still further into the probable earn-ing-power of the line when completed.” He congratulated the citizens of Dunedin on the splendid meeting. He was glad t° see that Dunedin was at last aroused. V\ hen the resolution, as above, had been handed to him, he considered it very mild ; too mild. It had appeared in the paper, and he. would therefore move it in its present form. He should have liked to see -the last clause omitted. L was : “That, if necessary, the Government should set up a Commission to inquire still further into the probable earning-power of the line when completed.” that only meant delay. Supposing a Commission were set up and held an inquiry and reported adversely .(as he did not think for a moment they would), he for one, ns most people, would still believe that the work should be proceeded with. He held that in a young country like this a railway should not be expected to pay from the date of its opening, excepting, perhaps, short suburban lines, or those going to mineral centres where coal, etc., was produced. The railway companies in America ran their railways rightout into the prairie, and settlement folu Ve ?i Government should look upon railways as commercial speculations. It was true that the commercial element should not be wholly lost sight of as it had been in some cases. The railways should be looked upon as roads, opening up the country and tending to development and assisting settlement. What had been done regarding roads? He had turned up the February number of the Labor Journal ’ giving the number ot men employed on co-operative works tnroughout the Dominion. He had found that there were 4,679 laborers on roads throughout the Dominion, 4,326 of whom were in the North Island, and the remainder (,353). in the South. Averagin' 1 * their earnings at 35s 6d per week, the ex" penditure in the North Island on roads was £B.OOO per week, or £384,000 per annum. Could they expect a 3J, per cent, return for this? He was not condemning this expenditure, , but it could not be expected to yield such a return, and it assisted in developing the country. Railways, to a ceicam extent, must be looked upon in the same way. I„ the Old Country, oetore a. railway was gone on with, evidence of the traffic had to be shown. Giving evidence Jo a parliamentary commit*f e , a .' v ‘ tness said, in reply to questions, that tnere were no minerals of any sort or anything else produced from his district. The Committee were surprised, but he said ; “ We should make something it we could get material up cheap.” A railway created passenger traffic. This ' had long been recognised at Home. The i same thing would be done hero Th» LnderEecreUry for Public Works, on The 19ch September, 1902. s-id : “Railways have already been constructed in districts where ,t seemed at present there would ie little traffic, and they have created heir own traffic.” The Lawrencc-Rox-mrgh Railway would be a sm-prise, and would create its own traffic. It was certain, y a novel idea that it should be required that any railway should show 3' per cent, from its beginning.- In his explanation Sir Joseph Ward said that the Otago Central Radway paid onlv 6s per cent. Considering the nature of the line it nad done very well, and it would have done still better if the land had been opened up and water provided. Ther© noi" tT,. e l!T Ct whlc *LSir Joseph Ward had not touched upon. He did not say how much the general prospects of the settler were enhanced, so that the taxation would be increased. All the big increase in the taxation should go to the credit of that railway _ As to this Line, lie firmly beheved that it would pay at no distant date. He would like to refer to utterances ° l 'c tv*"in • Prl , , - , ' e , Minister and the Alinister of Public Vorks. The late Air Seddon, at the turning of the first sod ?.*ii u- lal ' v;, - v ai ' Lawrence, said,All things come to those who know how to wait. The thing they needed had come to them, whereas the people of Lawrence had had the many good things dangled, before their eyes" and snatched away. This was a real commencing of the railway It was just about l thirty years since the railway was, lest' by | one vote. Job's relatives must have come ; to Lawrence. ” j.- railway, when constructed, would (Jlfor the good of Roxburgh, of Otago, ]\d of the Dominion , They were giv y utilities to parts than had been badly treated. It had been a I serious drawback tp -©tilers, and a drawback to the Domini • It wa-s removing a I reproach from the district.” Mi- Seddon had rightly likened them to Job foxpatience. Air Hall-Jones, in moving the

second reading of the Bill authorising this work, said: “ Then there is the Lawrence-' Roxburgh Railway. The work is necessary, as the traffic is heavy and the roads absolutely impassable.” Mr HallJones also expressed the belief that it would be one of the best paying lines in New Zealand. Mr Bathgate went on to point out that another member of the Ministry (Mr Millar) was a supporter of the railway. On April 11, 1905, when, the battle of the routes was being fought, Air M.iiL r had said that the Lawrence-Eox-burgh route was the shortest and best. As compared with any other route, it was cheaper in evexy way. Although, went on -the speaker, these were the sentiments of that Minister, we find that the Premier says: “In common honesty to the country he would require to stop this work until Parliament had considered the situation.” —(Voice: “What rot.”) Parliament had already considered it, and he felt that it was not dishonesty to carry out work considered by Parliament. Perhaps common honesty was a newly acquired virtue, and, if so, the attack must have seized it suddenly.—(Laughter.) The drilling machine was taken to the tunnel, and after working a week or so was removed because of this spasm of dishonesty.—(Laughter.) The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie had always been a supporter of the railway in the past, and if he could not explain or defend the Ministry he might, at least, have kept silence. He tried to build a discord in the people of Otago, and advocates the line up the CTutha Valley. This was not a time to advocate this railway.—(Hear, hear.) He thought that Mr Alackenzie was desiring to rouse discord mongst the people of Otago by referring them to this other projest at the time and in the manner he had. To comment on such an action was not for him. What the reason of the Government’s action was he did not know. It was perhaps punishment to the district for returning an Opposition member.— (Voices : “ No, no.”) Air Bathgate : “ No, I don’t think so, but it is only right that I should say what I have heard in the street. I have heard that frequently.” It may be. he continued, a desire on the part of someone to open the question of route. He thought that it was the difficulty of finding money. They should have "said so in common honesty, and it would have been more satisfactory ail round. Sir Joseph Ward might have thought; “We must curtail excuses. The poonle of Otago are divided, and are long-suffering people; we will stop the line.”—(Laugh" ter.) This meeting, however, showed that the apathy was beginning to lift, and he trusted that the voice of the meeting would be heard in Wellington, and would lead to the revers.d of the Government’s action. He would leave the many other aspects of the question to be touched on by other speakers.—(Loud applause.) i —Who Says It Will Not Pay ? ) Air C. W. Rattray said that he felt very strongly that an injustice was being done. The Government were simply flouting the people of Otago, The question was perfectly plain. This same Government—a little different as to individuals—started this line a few years ago, no doubt after reports to and investigation by the department, and Air Seddon, in turning the first sod, tobl the people that the line would not stop at Beaumont, but would go on, and that in the meantime they could continue to improve their properties and plant more orchards and so on. Now the Government hail stopped the work, and, being asked why, they said it was because it would not pay. Who said it would not pay? How could anyone prove that it would not pay until full and proper inquiries had been made? Were the conditions different to when this same Government started this railway?—(A Voice; “They are better.”) Nobody could say, pending fidl and adequate reports, that the line would not pay. But supposing it did not immediately pay 3 per cent, interest, would it be the only line that did not ? There was one railway particularly favored by Sir J. G. Ward. Th at was the line between Rive ie and Waikaia. If they were to conqj the returns on that line with the returns on the Beaumont line for ten years hf • (Mr Rattray) knew which he would back. The suggestion as to want of funds might have something in it, but if o, was the Beaumont line the only ■'one 'to : be stopped? What was the use of referring the question to Parliament when Parliament had authorised the line and allocated £30,000 for the work? He hoped the Government would be made to fee! that in regard to this matter Otago i stood together. j The motion was declared to be “ carried i unanimously' with the exception of a voting gentleman who is sitting against the wall.” j —Cessation a Crime.— | Mr A. S, Paterson said he knew the I district well, and there w'as absolutely no i reason whatever why the railway could not i be continued. The cessation of .work on this railway was a crime, he considered, and an absolute breach of faith with the settlers of the district.—(Applause.) The Government for years had been promoting the culture of fruit, employing pomologists. and sending swarms of teachers all over the Dominion encouraging people to grow fruit. He referred to the development of ‘ fruit culture in the Roxburgh district on : the strength of the late Air Seddon’s ad- | vice and promise, and pointed out that j several thousand additional acres had been i planted, and that man contemplated fur- i ther development. Fruit vva.-. not the only i product of the district. It produced sheep and early lambs, and it grew good root crops and good cereals. He had pleasure in moving another resolution— j That a committee be formed, consisting of the Mayor, Alessrs Gow, Tonkin, J. B. Waters, and E. Tamblyn, to arrange for an influential deputation to wait upon the Premier on his arrival at Dunedin, and urge the necessity of con- ' tinning the construction of the Law- ; rence-Roxburgh Railway to Beaumont without further delay.—(Applause.) Mr H. W. Alitchell seconded the motion. —Labor Wants Work— Mr J. E. APAianus emphasised the necessity for prosecuting railway construction ; in time of depression in order to open new j avenues of work for the unemployed. He told of the grievous plight of two emi- ! grants in Dunedin who were starving and | begging a bed of straw, after being lured : to this country. With the depression that i existed to-day, this was not the time to discontinue works that would open up new sources of employment.—(Applause.) —£ll,ooo a Year as Fruit Railage.— Mr W. J. Tonkin said that before ho j purchased his property in the district Air | Seddon assured them that they should have the railway. He purchased 4.000 acres of the Aloa Flat Estate, and planted 4,000 fruit trees, and had intended to go on planting up to 50,000 trees, thus giving employment to 100 or more persons. He could not understand the statement that the railway would not pay. Air Blackmore, the Government Pomoiogist, estimated that Roxburgh produced 2,500 tons of fruit this year, and the railage on the fruit sent from Edievale would come to £3,700 at 6d per case. In five years that would he doubled if the railway were through, and if growers were charged 9d per case, which, he thought, they would be prepared to pay, it would mean a revenue To the railway of £II.OOO in fruit alone. —Labor Speaks Up.—

j Mr Steve Boreham said that he was not altogether in favor of the resolution. He did not see why they should ask Sir J. G. Ward to go on with the railway. The deputation should be instructed to ask for 1 a. valid reason why the work ceased. -Speaking for the organised workers, he hoped they would not forget the action of i the Government in this matter. The Goi vernment had been_ rather high-handed several times lately in doing things without consulting . the representatives of the people. The railway should be gone on with, in order to find work, and in order to develop one of the finest fruit-growing districts in New Zealand—perhaps in the 'frieze' ' P 6o ?!® 0l " Dunedin must wake u P.-’tioi it is a question of charity,” sain -air Boreham, “you put your hands deep into your pockets and lash it out, but when it comes to a question of works for the benefit of the town, you let ■ vour Wards and your Millars and your Thomas : Mackenzies ride over you.”—(Laughter.) ■ —The Government’s Duty.— . -Mr T. R. Christie referred to the late

Air Seddon’s promise that the line would be constructed to Roxburgh,, and maintained that the present Government had a right to continue Mr Seddon’s policy. His promise should be carried out. The settlers, on the strength of that promise, had taken up land, had planted fruit trees thereon, and had endeavored as far as they could to -make a success. These people had a right to be dealt with on honest lines.

j — The Voice of the Aloralist.— Air William Thomson said that perhaps he had no moral right to address the meeting. He considered that what had fallen from the lips of two gentlemen on the other side of the room was not nearly strong enough. He congratulated the speecn of Air Allen, which he took to be the keynote of the spirit of the whole meeting.—(Applause.) There was no question whatever about the matter. He referred to the public indignation meeting regarding the filching of the HarborBoard’s land, and mentioned that some people who had taken a part in that meeting, and had been very determined and enthusiastic, had hastened to say what a splendid man the Premier was when he came to Dunedin. If that right hon. gentleman came down here again, some people who were at the meeting being held would be pleased to eat turkey, goose,' and other good things with him"—(Laughter.) It was surely time for th© people of Otago, and the people of Dunedin especially, to wake up. Surely the Government were ! pledged to the moral question. Were the men of Dunedin going to stand this kind of thing any longer? He was not going to ; throw dissension into the meeting, but the ; motion should be very much stronger. It ; was really too apologetic. The continu- | ance of the railway was a matter of jusj tice.—(Applause.)

—A Practical View.—■ • Air A. Alontzeon quite agreed with Air : Thomson's remarks that the resolution was not strong enough. He would like to see it take this iorm : “ That three persons be appointed from Roxburgh, three from Lawrence, and twelve from the present audience to form a deputation to communicate with Sir Joseph Ward and proceed to Wellington, and demand—or, rather, ‘ politely ask ’ —the proper reasons to bo given why the line is not to be gone on with, and urge that it should be at once proceeded with.” He had travelled through the country in question for the last twenty-five yeais', and through the Dominion from Coromandel to the Bluff. 'lt had been stated that there would not be sufficient produce to justify the line. Apart from the land that was taken up, there were big stretches to be cut up for closer settlement. There were Beaumont, Ormaglade, Teviot, Bellamy's, and other [ largo acreages. This particular country would produce anything, and was producing grain and- wheat m large quantities. There were also grass seed, rye grass, and barley. There was also the Aloa Flat Estate. It was straining the point just rather far that they, as intelligent people, should be told that the line would not pay.—(Applause.) The Government expert (Mr Blackmore) had estimated last year’s fruit output at 2.500 tons, and the freight being paid on that quantity was Is per case to Edievale. The price might be 6d , if a railway were run, or even perhaps 9d, ' and when Beaumont was reached the people would give a guarantee. Apart from this, he could put his hand upon eight gentlemen prepared to put down £1,050 each, or sixteen to hand over £525, if the railway to Roxburgh was only finished. This combination would, two years after the completion of the line, be prepared to put down interest at the rate 3 per cent, on the total estimated expenditure, £350,000. The amount would be £8.400. He was quite prepared to find the men to PM’ that amount down.—(Applause.) He did not know whether it would be necessary, for the settlement in the country would pay the interest on the railway. The Prime Alinister, Mr Aloritzson continued, was far too astute a person. He intended bringing the matter before - the House, and that meant the ranging oi province against province, Otago only being a drop in the bucket against the whole country. It would probably prove as disastrous as stopping at the tunnel. They had no right to take away what a previous Government had pi’omised. Air Hall-Jones had said that this line should run from Lawrence to Roxburgh. He thought that facts and figures could be given which j could not be disputed. Thev had not got | railways to bring produce forward. How ! was it that the Otago Central Railway had , not paid up to now? For one thing, there j had been two bad seasons. Settlers far up j had to pay Is to bring a bushel of oats | down. Who would grow oats? If the rail- | way was up far enough it would pav. He ! urged upon the meeting to do their utmost. They were only asking their rights. No favors were wanted ; they just wanted what they were entitled to. and what they had been promised.—(Npplause.) —Ply the Premier with Proof.—

The Hon. J. B. Callan said that he had been inJhe_ habit of going up to the Roxburgh district two or three times a year, and he knew something of its capabilities. He knew, on the evidence of experts, that it was the best fruit-producing district in the Dominion. The orchards there had been, largely increased in reliance on the distinct promise that the railway would be made, and the stoppage would mean a great loss. Be understood that Hir J. (» dVand would be in Dunedin next week, sc why go to Wellington to meet him? The only reason given for stopping the wor! was that the railwa;,- would not pay. A 1 their energies should therefore be directo to proving that the railway would pay. am he believed that could be established They should put it to Sir Joseph Ward t< rim the line as far as Beaumont or Miller's Flat, and see then how the returns were io stop where it was now stopped was ab soluteiy useless. —Don't Forget the Country Men,— Mr A. E. Cohen reminded His Worshii that there were delegates from the countr whom it was desirable to hear before th hour grew too late. —Delay' Feared.— In answer to the Mayor, Mr Moritzso. said that he quite agreed with Mr Calk as to _ meeting the Premier, but Sir Josep. would be sure to answer that he wouk consult his colleagues. —The Voice- of the People.— The Mayor said he thought the bes‘ suggestion was the deputation in Dunedin They would build a platform in the- Iri angle, and have the meeting in the cpei air—(applause)—and if necessary the. would have a half-holiday, to show the. the' people were determined. He h:u thought, also, of going to the theatre fu four or live nights and taking there tlu voice of the people as well. Let- them show Sir Joseph Ward that the people demaiio this railway, "and,” added Mr M'Donald, “ if all these requests are ignored we mus have a Government of our own in Otago.’ —(Laughter a-nd applause.) The motion was put and carried unaui mously. —The Plea of an Orchardist.— Mr J. Bennetts, a Roxburgh fruitgrower of twenty years’ experience, sought the friendly support of the City. The interests of the people of Dunedin were identical with the interests of the people 01 Roxburgh. The physical features of the Tbviot converged in the direction of Dunedin. He thought it -was right to have railway communication with this great | centre. He referred to the promise of th j late Mr bed don and the retired Miniete. ! of Public Works. It was a great pity ■ that so much money had been spent am I then for some reason the works were shut , down. If the Government carried out ; their proposal it would be the most diabolical thing ever perpetrated on an intelligent people.—(Applause.) He referred to the scope for cicse-r settlement, -and mentioned that the Orma Glade Estate should be opened for settlement, '<u he had recommended to the Government The owners were absentees. It was nc‘ fair that absentees should hold the lam when people were hungering to be settled upon it, and were kept from getting settled on the land. There were immense coal reserves in the district, which would j bo an important factor in connection with j the railway. When the dredging was 1 brisk there were something like 4(X) t-ona being supplied weekly. There were im-

mense tracks of gold-bearing country that . required capital to develop. There was much pastoral country that was almost unique as regards the rearing of early lambs. Referring to, the acreage upon ■which men lived, he said jthat he knew of men who were each making a living on ' ten_ acres. He had -thirty acres under fruit cultivation, and contemplated planting ten to fifteen acres more, but he j thought he would not be able to do that 1 successfully, seeing that the railway was stopped. He urged the citizens of Dunedin to work hand in hand with the people of the Roxburgh district. The people in that district had wanted friends for a long time. The railway was of national importance. To stop the railway at the tunnel'was no good at all. It practically was £58,000 thrown away.—(Applaure.) —A Voice from Lawrence.—„ The Chairman asked if Mr Pilling was present, and, learned that he was not, but Mr J. B. Al’Kinlay, also of Lawrence, responded to the invitation to address the meeting. He said that he had nothing to i add to what had been already advanced, j except that the proposed buildings at the j foot of the Big Hill would cost a mint of i money that could be saved. —Alen Wanting Work.— The Mayor said he could endorse what his friend Air M‘Manus, had said about . men wanting work. There were more | poor people in Dunedin than there were three or four years ago. He could find 500 men, not loafers, who would be very glad of work on the streets at 7s or even 6s a day. —“Tuapeka” Returns Thanks.— Air R. Scott, M.P. for Tuapeka, said that he had not intended to speak at the meeting, but after hearing the views expressed he felt constrained to say that he was delighted to see the way that Dunedin was backing up the claim to redeem the promises made in respect to this line. ; He thanked the people of Dunedin on bej half of his constituents. He begged to propose a hearty vote of thanks to the mayor.—(Applause.) This concluded the meeting at 9.30 p.m. —Final Arrangements.— Several gentlemen remained in the | chamber for a time and drafted the following telegram to be sent by the Alayor to the Premier to-day; Crowded indignation meeting held at the Town Hall last night. Unanimous you should meet a deputation in the Garrison Hall one evening next week. Kindly make appointment. Aleantime you will please give instructions not to remove the machinery, such as drilling machinery, etc., now" at- the tunnel at Big Hill. The following Committee, who will be supplied with all possible information from the Roxburgh representatives, were appointed :—His Worship the Alayor, the Hons. J. A. Alillar, J. T. Paul, J. B. Callan, Alessrs T. K. Sidey, J. F. Arnold, G. AI. Thomson, E. Clark, M.P.s, W. Gow, R. Breen, A. Bathgate, D. E. Theomin, D. ARPherson, J. E. APAianus, and S. Boreham. The Committee named were authorised to meet the Prime Alinister as a deputation representative of the citizens of Dunedin, and make all arrangements in connection with the forthcoming meeting.

909.