EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 5251, 24 July 1885, Page 2

EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

•\ [UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Christchurch, July 23. A meeting of the guarantors of the East and West Coast Railway was held today. There were fifty- four gentlemen present, representing all the mercantile and industrial interests of Canterbury. The Hon. C. C. Bowen presided. The Chairman said that after full consideration the committee thought the present offer a reasonable one, and the proposals of the Government in the matter. The tunnel was barely completed .when it was admitted on all hands to be the making of the province, and he was convinced that this railway is as important to the welfare of thia province and the whole

colony as that tunnel then was to the welfare of Canterbury; and this would be acknowledged by every one as soon as the work is completed. As to the terms, the guarantee required is a burden which the improved value of the property ought gladly to bear. It would be the interest of the company to get the lands set apart for it settled as soon as possible, and this settlement would enhance the value of the now valueless alternate blocks held by Government. Mr E. G. Wright endorsed all the Chairman had said, and it was resolved, "That we, the Christchurch guarantors in meeting assembled, unanimously desire to convey our congratulations to the Government upon the progress of negotiations for the formation of the East and West Coast and Nelson Railway, and beg to express our fall acceptance of the terms offered. We further say that the proposals of the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer as to the means of securing the guarantee are fair and reasonable, and should be acceptable by the country. Nelson, July 23. The largest and most enthusiastic meeting ever held in Nelson took place tonight relative to the proposals as to the Nelson, West Coast and Canterbury railway. Although only notified late in the afternoon, the hall was crowded. Mr J. H. Cock was in the chair. Mr Sclanders moved a resolution that this meeting, whilst protesting against the principle involved in specially taxing this district for the construction of the main trunk railway passing through it, a railway moreover to the construction of which the colony has been pledged for many years, nevertheless cordially approves of the guarantee as proposed by the Government to be given for the construction of the East and West Coast and Nelson railway. Believing that the value of the work to the colony and the district will far exceed the price to be paid for it. In speaking to the motion, he said every good had been pledged to carry out this line. The resolution rather demurred to the proposal that the district interested should be specially taxed, and it did seem rather hard, but he could not think any one in the district would object to pay the proposed contribution if it were necessary. He spoke of the immense advantage the line would be to the localities it passed through, and also the benefit the colony would j derive from having a large estate valueless, because in accessible, rendered of value, the alternate blocks being still retained by the Crown. He referred to the settlement which must follow the advantage to customs and other revenues, and he said the construction of line would lighten the burdens of all-.the people of the colony. He said the 'willingness with which the people of the whole district had contributed to the cost of the delegates conclusively showed the feelings which actuated them were shared by all. Mr Haddon seconded the motion, and claimed that the New Zealand party if they, were true sons of New Zealand must support them. The Bishop of Nelson referred to his knowledge of the country and feelings of the community throughout the whole districts. He said it was the people who desired this railway, not the big estate owners, and that it would advance these districts moriallly, socially, religiously, and commercially. In his speech, in the course of which he said he spoke as a citizen, was exceedingly powerful and earnst, being repeatedly interupted by cheers. The resolution was then carried unanimously amidst applause. Mr Jackson moved that the former resolution be at once telegraphed to the Minister and member of the distric. He also spoke of the claims of the district to the railway. The provincial scheme, which was on the point of being carried out, the english capitalists having been appointed to sign the contract, having been abandoned on the faith of the Government promises to make the railway part of the trunk line system. He said, however, that people were so confident that they would agree to be specially taxed in order to have the railway. Mr J. R. Dobson seconded, and one or two others spoke, but there was not a solitary dissentient, and each statement was received with cheers. Reefton, July 24. At a meeting last night re the West Coast railway a resolution was carried in favor of guarding the concession required by the syndicate, and affirming the principal of the contributions of the districts immediately affected. The supplemented by the Government and proposals was made that contributions should be raised by the land tax, but the words "property tax" were substituted as amended was just and carried.