CATLINS-TAHAKOPA RAILWAY.

Evening Star, Issue 14998, 4 October 1912, Page 9

CATLINS-TAHAKOPA RAILWAY.

Tho executive of the Catlins-Tahakopa Railway League met yesterday afternoon; present—Mr \V. T. Edmond (in the chair), Mr J. B. Waters (secretary), and Messrs Leslie Wilson ,\V. Taylor, G. Brown, L. Harris. The. Secretary reported tho information to hand with respect to the opening of the Puketiro section for traffic at schedule rales. The settlers were indignant at being unable to get schedule rates.—lt was resolved that a deputation wait on the lubhc Works Engineer to see what can bo done in regard to the matter of handing nmnt tlle section to the Railway UepanMr J Christie, in his letter from Puketiro, dated llth September, wrote : “It is quite reasona ole lo think that the rails "‘iH.be laid to Caberfeidh in about five or six weeks. As to loading conveniences lor stock at Puketiro, the department’s arrangement will be quite satisfactory only on condition that provision is made for loading sheep on both upper and lower decks of the trucks, otherwise wo would be paying full price for a truck which wo could only half utilise. Puketiro has been far too modest in its demands. Also it has not been half advertised in regard to stock-raising, especially in the production of marketable lambs. This season, for instance, the sheep farmers expect to cut and tail fully 150 per cent. Some of these lambs are already six weeks old, and so far as I can learn none have died from natural causes. You will see that a great many of tho ewes have produced twins, and some have produced triplets and are feeding them well,” ’ On the 12th September Air Christie wrote that the slip about a mile past Puketiro was still very big, but was being removed. The rails were laid a long wav past that point, and in a few days should be laid to the Caberfeidh side of the Matai Creek. On the new section of the line a deal of bush work has been done. A considerable number of tho cuttings between Puketiro and Papatowai have been cut out, and a number of men are informed that as soon as the cuttings are finished there is no place to put them, and they are allowed to go. This has reduced the number of men on the works to under 200. This state of affairs has not existed for years. We wore told we were to got a fair deal. I do not think that anv of the staff hereffirc responsible. The Secretary mentioned that the engineer told the league that as soon as the, heavy work was through the number of the hands would bo reduced, as the work would be easier.