PUBLIC MEETING AT LEESTON.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2099, 15 November 1880, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING AT LEESTON.

A public meeting was held at Spring’s Hotel on Friday, to take into consideration the increased railway tariff, which came into force on the 11th October last. There were only ten gentlemen present, including the Southbridgo delegates— Messrs R. B. Willis, and J. R. Campbell. Mr W. D. Lawrence, on taking the chair, and opening the meeting, referred at some length to the excessive railway charges, and quoted a few statistics, which went to prove that when the rates were lower the railway paid better, besides proving of more benefit to the public generally. He would urge upon those present to join with the Southbridge deputation, and wait on Mr Maxwell, and do their best to get the present tariff lowered to say about one-half. Mr R. B. Willis, as one of the deputation from Southbridge, read a very lengthy memorial which had been drawn up by him, setting forth their requirements. The memorial was adopted by the meeting. Mr John Rennie said it was the duty of all to assist the Government to make the railways pay, but he thought the Government had gone the wrong way to work to do so, and it was quite time that they moved in the matter. He noticed that Mr Maxwell had been to Rangiora and reduced the charges, by calling it only sixteen miles from Rangiora to Christchurch, instead of twenty-one. He (Mr Ronnie) could not say that it was a very good way to adjust the evil. The Chairman said, that a friend of his who was coming to Southbridge, on making application to the railway to see how much it would cost to take his furniture, was informed it would cost him £ll. He had got it carted, and it had only cost him £5 10s. After some further discussion on the subject, the following gentlemen were elected to form a deputation to wait on Mr Maxwell with the Southbridge delegates : —Messrs Lawrence, Osbourne, Dorrant, and Rennie. The Chairman promised to write to Mr Maxwell, to ask him to appoint a day on which they could meet him. With a vote of thanks to Mr Lawrence, the meeting closed.