EAST COAST RAILWAY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 267, 15 October 1912, Page 2

EAST COAST RAILWAY.

PUBLIC MEETING AT HASTINGS. WASTEFUL METHODS CONDEMNED. About sixty people attended the public meeting held m the Hastings Borough Council Chambers last evening for the purpose of considering the question of Ute stoppage of railway construction in Hawke's Bay. The Mayor (Mr. J. Garnett) presided, and after reading the notice convening the meeting, invited discussion. Mr. T. Clarkson said Mr. Eustace Lai.e had framed a resolution dealing with the subject which he had asked him (Mr. Clarkson) to move, but he had prepared a motion which, whilst containing the same ideas, ]>ut them in a mme concise form. He moved "tliat this meeting approves of the action of the Govern nient in vetoing wasteful expendi tine, but urges the spetdy construction of the East Coast railway, provided the construction is on up-to date economical lines, and that the route chosen is the most aiivanrageous to tlie people of New Zealand.” The mover said that for very many years promises had been made by the previous Government which had not been kept, and year after year, the people of tins district had been hoping against hope that something would be done in ti:e matter of linking tip the East Coast by railway, but it was not till the dying hours of the M aril Government that any definite n-.-- was made. A week before the Ward (Jnvcrninent *was put out of cilice. Sir Joseph Ward had been induct d by the vigorous member for Napier to turn the first sod, an improper last act for the leader oi a Government. when it was not known whether it was the best route or not. He (the speaker) had foil so strongly on the matter at the time that he had written a letter io the I’ < calling attention to Sir Joseph Ward's unconstitutional act. Recent events had shown that the Premier's action was il 1-advised and confirmed ihc opposition of those who were against the route selected lay the then Gov ernment. It was stated that about £lO.OOO had aln.ady been wasted, and there w.is no sense in cent inning tin' present im thuds <4' construct ion if a loss oi £50,00u would result from so doing. The time was opportune for the people of Hawke’s Bay to ask I lie Govern nient to look into I he quest'on. .and .make cirtain of tho best route l>e fore any move work was done, and | see that it was in the interests not ■of the people of Napier. Port Aln:- ! riri. Hastings, or Hawkes Bay. but ! of the people <>f New Zealand :t« a : whole. A gentleman whom be had I been speaking to prior to the meet ling bad asked the question: "It the | work was bring mnlert.akcn Lv a priI vate company would the line be | taken it. the same direction as h id I been decided by -the Hard Govern i imiii. or would it be taken inland ' | The reply was that it would certainjly be taken over the inland route, I for although it might not he the [shortest, it would give the l>esi return for the-outlay. And that should |be the first consideration oi the Go- ! ver;.nient as of a private company. [ In seconding the resolution, Mr. E. i Lane said he was convinced a misitake bad been made, not wilfully. I but in ignorance, because the country was not understood, and the ini vest igat ion promised by the Ward [Government had not. been made. I. The promised investigation as to ironies was suppressed about the ! t ime of the last elect ions, .and tin ; route commenced was part ot a surviv put through without any on iquiry whatever. 1 lie work .•ilrcid.v 'done had cost double the amount h should have, and Mr. Pulley, tin i i ontrnctor for the Waima Harbour Iliad informed him that he coul'.i

have carried it cut ai half llic cost. il< (Mr. Lane) was not charging the i workmen .with slovenly work, they] did their duty. but it w:ts the wuli- i I ods adopted he objected to. Scoops | t and ploughs would have reduced the j | cost, considerably. 1 lie Ministers! . intention now was to trnme in what , had been done, to prevent stock • from spreading the shingle. 1. hat I was all that had been done, the pil-1 iiig up of the shingle two miles i from the conimeiicenn. nt ot the Hue.: , The circumstances surrounding the | 'starting of the line wort' discredit-, i able. It was start i d without plans, '.■■.nd 50 men put on. If the work v. ns !lo have gone on, 500 men would be i wanted, 50 would be of no use. lli'it ; I was not the proper met hod oi i-od-j st,uiction. M hat was wanted was j the best route for the whole of the i Dominion. Napier people thought i they were doing a great stroke by ■ getting the line started and getting ‘ Hastings cut out. but. now tiivy i found it. would take three years to 'take the line across the lagoon. 'fhe'r work had come home to roost, j and it served them right. The MinUster would not alter the route unless the people of Hastings could ( prove to him that the present one iwas wrong, and he hoped the H i.-t- -' mgs Chamber of Commerce would Hake steps to have the Al mister (shown over the country imolved. RETROSPECTIVE. AN INTERESTING REVIEW. Mr. David Whyte said it was a

good t!nng for the people of Hawke s j Bay that an opportunity bad arisen j to discuss the situation. He agreed s it li Mr. Laue that the action of the | Ward Government hi pushing fori ward the construct ion of the sect ion | to I’etane was a putilictil disgrace. He had in his possession some inside information with regard to the railway niovcnunt which led io I hr commencement of the line, ami hv | intended to disclose it to the inecti ing. From one point ot view it 1 might be better to lake the railway I by P< tane. because it wa- t lie shortt esr route, but the people ot Hawkes . Bay had a right to special coii.-udcr-i ation. providing the inland route •could be adopted without unduly ■lengthening the distance. 1 he present Minister for Public Merks was dn be congratulateti on -topping 'what was a wasteful expenditure of I public money, and he considered • that if the people had an opportunity 1 to place before the Minister iuior j mation regarding the various routes •lie would be eonvineed that the inuiicv expended on the I’etane line

was hot spent the most adi an tageous manner. The const ruction along the Pctane route would nidi tate against the whole of Hawkes Bay, and it would bo well to consider another matter which, fitted in with the railway question. With Napier's splendid geographical situ ntion. a judicious expenditure <>l public nmiu y coul.il make Napmi and Hast Illg's two of the finest cities in the world. Napier was endowed with natural facilities which would enable a. first class harbour :<> la? built, at a cheap c<>4 a harbour which would at U act the largest steamers, and by cheap dues, draw commerc : a.l trade from Palmerston. Gisborne. Laupo, Wairmi, and a’l the surrounding dis jirieis. The only competitor it. would I have to fciir would be W clluigtoti.. I'Hit be did lint think Wellington could '•an . -si ulix compete owing to llhe eexpenditure lu'ct'ssar'v ito improve her harbour. In Welling i ton there w:is rm land reclaim to 'pax off the debt, whilst at Naiom ilhcrc was land wliivh. whin reclaim ; cd, if it did not pa.v the cost oi Che ' harkmir would P'>.' mteres.t. In ad ' dit ion to that there was loom i’<>r , unlimited timh' by cutting < anaß. ,'im.l then there was U aikarcmo.ina, which could suppb power for all the industries in the neighbourhood. But all those advantages would be let no use unh'-s the railwav was Hoping the inland country and by pending it along the Pet'me route hrn coirhb ri d the best interests of ; Napier. Hastings. and Hawk' s I Bay were' being defeated. I rentmuing. Mr. Whr t< wmit on io 'igi\e th'? inside informntkm i prn d I" I-',' hmi earlier m i. l ■ ! . p . cob. Hr '■■thi t his pu hmg "f the | railwax on to I’etinm had hee.i I « lelx the work of Mr. Brow n and [Sir jc-uph Waid. ami il was not'. .bort of a p< htie'il disgoU'e. ! He was serry that < tie <>i the local I nfws]>:ipcrs had sneritn cd the '• Presi of th- disiiict by supporting 1 I he) •' action. He referred to the 'Napier 'Daily Telegraph.'' It spoke iin ignorance or its (.■ohimm- woubl iluuc eclitamed different nntlri' to what tiny had published. At the last election tin- people were led to believe that Mr. Brown had done everything, and almost singlehrnided had brought about the Ea.o Cast railway. But it was a la> ■ ihat.il was llm ilasl in;.y Uhamber .if ('(.■ninicrrc who gm' the Icn-i. .mil lirc.iglii nt Ihe organisation which rcsiiltcd in the construction brim; mitbm-iscd. Il caused the N<r!h l-i.'iiid b’ailw.’v la ague to lie f< -imd and '•• ems'd llir assist mi v f ”U th., le.sgrn.'). hi the North '■ land. Two scsthms before the exit <-f the Ward ,mrty - a dcput.'dioti vc-p-e .ent i'.li!, all Hie leagues ami Chambers ( f Commerce m the Nov h bln>id iiift m WeHington. and as iie (.Mr. Whyte) was one of Hie delegylm, from Iln: tings, ho knew w intl he wat; talking about. They met 'ii i WehiruJon a Lridny tnglti, and it was d •■'■ied before meeting Hie Minisi( r (>■ light <o get Hie linked rupp.' st <>f all tht' d< legal ( s on on-' (lentaml the c<m“t ruction of th” Napier Gisbertm line, and t<> seek to j-et'att mill.oHsa‘. rm bill put through and a sum placed m the I'-st iniaf i. it took tdl ii o'c'ovk the following j morning to thrash Hie matier oiii. bitt t!my succeeded in getting 1 9e iipp..rt of nil the delegates, and at 1£ .■.’(•lock Hie deputation waited on tho Fremii'r. Mr. Brown w .t, >ii Wclliugl on on the I’Tid'ty night, and if there was anv time in Ibe histo);.' d H.-tvif '. Bay <.r >n his own t>o!ti>cal career when his services sltould Imc been fertile*.ming it was when the Premier was waited on. But wbnt dul they find. On the Batnr„!ity mi.r.ling Mr. Brown ret urn ■ ,;1 t, N api< r. ami disgr.'i'-efu ly ' m gleet ed b’s duty. He regretted

:’mt Sir .Lames Carroll was alia* ctment lr<.,a 1 lie depul al u:n. 110 ’■ <.'\c. - . he took a prominent part ruh uqaoillr i,n bringing about, tho Authcri-ai i'.ti Bill. When the A H>ia!ii.ii was recent d. Str Joseph W:.d pr r.el i. ll.v trmited them wit il -■oi-iempt, and in mplxUiK- ilrifie I I'l -I.:m the ma:n i'-sin- to the subject < f mil i< n-d borrowing. The deli' tc-5 came out disappointed, and some said it was svh.nl they expeetl(|. Other,, -md t'u’.i should m,t leave Ac 11 i ngt'. .ii before they made h.iiii' ii iiprc ss ion oil tlie I •<> v eri imeai. The result was that t lie matter was taken up Ly the “Do miuicns” ami new leagues wet-.’ ,”m< ■I. S : r James U-’rroll was rom.K when he raw that an agV ,■ < n bad hern st nrt eil a I the ke’s B.ay end io brie the Napmr eml started, anti ho had an nut horn Uin.:> bdl p.'sM’il and ESOOU placed Sil 1-bc Esi iintos. That was wind Im I*l.l withoid Mr. IH’iiwm Tim imxl -.i<m. the- Ward Govei'nmcilt saw ibtii if it did not want Io lose tin'

support ci' Napur, •( Uni iu> oplmn but to ei ::il!l<‘:tcc the line at Napier nisi;, and when the deputation went :i. Wellington again, they were told that the line would be coninieneed al the northern cud ami a sum cl tJO.Of'u on I lie F.st mint cs l<> commence ;d belli ends. Il v.ns Si:' Junes ('ar roll who thus broke ;bc ter and scoured the nut imrisa ■ t j. a for the wo>-k to go from Napier northwards, and lie mentioned tins to -how that Mr. Brown was not the in:v.i, but Hie very <>pp.. c.- it nnytlming. ( Laughter). The next iiapj t iling was (hilt while impel I ••Hi loe’il Li’ iri s were iroirig into the question of route, the decision tn ..tar! I’nini Pettine was sprung ci t lifiii to suit polit ie.'d purpose-. Mr. B-cv ;I and Sir Joseph Ward ;■ ranged to turn the lirst s<’d <>n thsection t<» I’etane. By such an act.'om Mr. Brown had done the " erf f thing ho could do for the iowu be repre-< tited. Tim iutcrc-t ■ of Hast mgs <|cpeii'lc<l on the progress < f Hawke’’ Bay ;:s a whole hv did m t take a parochial ' iew <f the invite.■. That would ot'!' rt'iari.l the growth of the town, and he licked from a broader stall i po’in. The ini < rc’! s of Napier lay . d .""nig ecniincree to its centre, i,id t was ei.sent ml Ihal Hie East, (oil line should ta.p as much mum tn as } ><; s-i till f it went by w iv <..| Pct.'ine it would only skirt the ry m-ii'lld of developing it .'inil i:>cri : ong ii*- products. He had •’ op t lie iie-t authority Hup Hie L 1 ’ ft reiice between Hie I’rttnie an I the inland route would not be mor ■ than 15 miles, and he eontended ih.tf wav not siithi'ieiu t<4 jn-t ify I’etane HHiie. (Applaip.’-t.

A LITTLE PREMATURE. Mr. John Be.itson. sent., thought the meeting was a little premature. The Minister was clue to visit ‘he district shortly, and no doubt ke would explain why the work was stepped and also why the Petane route was chosen in preference to a route inland. He had lived longer! in the district than most present, and yet he did not think he was competent to form an opinion as to whether or not the beach route would touch as much land as if ■; went via Taradale. and as far as the stoppage of the work was concerned they were in the dark, and should wait to hear the Minister’s explanation. If they quarrelled over the question of route, they might not get the East Coast line at all. and the Minister might say that he would wait till the question was titled. A lot had been said about Mr. Brown, but he was not being treated fairly Much as he dislikeci Mr. Brown and his politics, he must admit that he was mainly instrumental in getting the line starte i. He had spoken in favour of it, anl had been an out and out supporter of the East Coast line for years. Mr. Brown was not as bad as ‘re was painted, and it was not fair to attribute all that had been done to him. He (Mr. Beatson) had hear! that it had been stated cm tl»? authority of the engineers rait the inland route was about 40 miles longer than the one adopted. Mr. Lane : Absolutely untrue. Mr. Beatson sa’d it came from the engineer, and also that it would cost an extra £‘30.000 cr £40,000. If such was the case, then the engineers knew something about ,'t. As far as Hawke’s Bay was concerned, the sooner Napier and Gisborne were connected the better. He thought the reference to altering the route should be left out. that was a matter for the engineers. The Government would do its best for the district, and when the Minuter came along he would satisfy them that the Government intended to carry out the line as soon as possible. He suggested that the reason for stopping the work was because the Government was getting short of funds. (Applause). In reference to Mr. Beatson's iemarks, Mr. Whyte rose to make a personal explanation. He said that what had been stated by him regarding Mr. Brown was a fact based on his own personal knowledge, and he would not withdraw one word. Mr. Beatson : I accept that. Replying to Mr. Beatson. Mr. Clarkson said they did not know w'hen the Minister would be coming to Hastings, but they knew that Parliament was now sitting and that the Public Works Statement would be brought down shortly, and if the interests of the district were to be disregarded it should not be for the want of saying something. Mr. Beatson said they should not quar rel over the route, but : he (the speaker) thought it would be wiser to quarrel for a year if t would eventually mean getting the best route. (Applause). Mr. Clarkson’s resolution was then put to the meeting and earr’ed unanimously. THE INLAND ROUTE.

Mr. Lane moved, “That this meeting is of the opinion that a route could be found from’Napier which avoiding the cost (at least £40.000) and delay (three years) of constructing the long embankment and bridge to the Westshore might serve to embody the Puketitiri tram line proposal, and while not increasing the distance to Gisborne from Napier by more than 15 miles would reduce the distance between Gisborne and Wellington. Constituting not only the first section of a railway to link up Napier with Auckland via Gisborne, but also the first section of a system connecting Napier witn Auckland via Taupo and Rotorua, and Napier with Kawhia on the West Coast via Taupo and Te Kuiti, as recently suggested by tbeTe Ku’ti Chamber of Commerce. In the opinion of this meeting such a line would pay good dividends from the very commencement, for not only would it develop and serve the same country as the Petane route whi.'h the advocates of that route say is so wonderful, but it would, in addition, open up the wide extent of ploughable land on both sides of the Tutaekuri river where the Government has recently purchased 25.0000 acres, tap the timber resources of both Puketitiri and Te Pohue and enable dairying to be carried on in those districts where there is a good summ -r rainfall and, passing along the foot of the Mangahararua Range, it would serve 50.000 acres of State lands on both sides of that range which the present route misses. further, it would avoid the difficult country at the head of the Lsk river which the present route has to negotiate and it would pass near enough to V. aikare to pick up any traffic of value to the present Petane route/’ Speaking to Ins resolution Mr. Lane said lie was well acquainted with the country referred to. He was a member of the Hawke s Bay Land Board for four years, during which time he had been appointed classification commissioner by . the Ward Government. His business had also taken him from end to end of it, though he had only been in the district for nine years, and Mr. Beatson had lived in it for nearly ninety years. (Laughter). The East Coast line should go from Napier. but through Taradale and Pukctapu. to enable a link to be made with Hastings. so that it would not be necessary to go to Napier. Mr. Beatson had said that the engineers were infallible, but he remembered that in regard to a lire in the North Auckland district. the engineers had referred to a gap. but when the Minister went to inspect the line, he could find no gap at all. The Hon. Roddy McKenzie had admited that himself. The engineers had not been over the country. He wanted to save the country ' £300.000. The present route of tlie East Coast rally' at followed the Esk \ alley, where there was no flat lard to develop. The Valley was surrounded on both sides by unploughable ami impassable hills, and the engineers had admitted that they would have to contend with great difficulties. Mr. Piper, who lived near the Valley, said the

route was a ridiculous one and his wool would continue to go to Napier by waggon. Mr. Liddle, whose land would be doubled in value if the present route was adhered to, also said the Petane route was the wrong one. There were some honest men in the country and he (the speaker) ap pealed to them. The present route would only benefit those who sold beer and groceries in Napier, and Napier business people should be ashamed of themselves. He (Mr. Lane) had had some experience of Mr. Beatson on the I aimers L nion, and he opposed every proposal that came forward. He advised the meeting not to listen to him. (Laughter). Mr. H. M. Campbell. M.P., hail done his best to prevent the present route being adhered to. and the Ward Government’s action in the matter had caused the member for Hawke’s Bay to make the remarks he did on the occasion of turning the first sod. It was because the promised investigation was suppressed. There was too much political influence, but the Reform party had promised to abolish that and he hoped they would do so. (Applause). Mr. David Whyte said he would second Mr. Lane's resolution, but pro forma, because there was some thing in it which he ’would have left cut had he been the mover. There was a .great deal of common sense in what Air. Lane had said. He also appreciated the presence of e man who was capable of doing what Mr. Lane attributed to Mr. Beat son—tearing matters to pieces—be cause when all matters were pro perly thrashed out the best conclusion was arrived at. He did not think the engineers were infallible,; and there was evidence that the opinion of the engineers was defeated by the opinions of laymen, and that happened in regard to the East Coast railway. If the inland route was 40 miles longer, he would fight for the Petane route, but he had it on the best authority that the difference was only 15 miles. Mr. L. AV. Fowler moved as an amendment that the Government be asked to reconsider the decision to take the East Coast railway along the Petane beach, and to re- open the whole question of railway extension in Hawke’s Bay from the business standpoint of selecting the route which promises to give the best return on the cost of construction. Mr. Fowler said he regretted personalities had been introduced. (Laughter.) As far as Hastings was concerned it was between the devil and the deep sea, and it did not matter two straws if the line went by Petane or elsewhere. If the meeting was going to suggest that the railway should go from Napier, he thought a mistake was being made. They did not know whether such a course would be the most advantageous and should not commit themselves. He had recently been told that a gentleman who strongly advocated the Petane route had large interests there, and it might be same motive which was underlying the advocation of the other route.

Mr. Beatson challenged anyone to say that the deviation of the railway yvas of any importance, what was of greatest importance was connection with Gisborne. Mr. Clarkson said the amendment was out of order or at all events it was unnecessary, as it was embodied in the first resolution. Mr. Lane had given a magnificent exposition of the whole question, but he thought it would be bettei; if his resolution was withdrawn. Thejshould not ask the people of Hastings to pin themselves to any particular route. Mr. Lane said his motion embodied a lot of information which was necessary unless the Minister was to remain in ignorance like Air. Fowler and Mr. Beatson. (Laughter). That was his object in sending the resolution to Wellington. Air. Whyte suggested that a resolution couched in general terms would not carry much weight as one in a clear and concise form. The first resolution was more to the point. Dr. Story seconded Mr. Fowler’s amendment pro forma, but said he agreed with Air. Lane that the line should start from Napier. With reference to the Petane beach route, the inadvisability of coast routes had been pointed out by Lord Kitchener yvhen he was visiting the Dominion. In the event of war the line would be blown to pieces. The amendment was then put to the meeting and lost, only about twelve persons voting. Air. Lane’s motion was carried, and it was decided to forward the resolutions to the Alinister through the member for the district. A vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding concluded the meeting. ABSOLUTELY A POLITICAL AIATTER. Danncvirke. Oct. 15. The cessation of work on the East Coast railway at Napier end received brief mention at the Dannevirke Chamber of Commerce last evening’. The chairman (Mr. T. Cain) alluded to the resolutions of protest passed at other places and asked if the Chamber desired to pass any resolution on the matter. Mr. Bickford : It is absolutely a political matter. I do not think this chamber should take any action. Mr AlcNicol: What is the protest ; The chairman: There is no protest. I only mentioned that all other public bodies of Napier and Hastings had entered a protest against the steppage of this work. I really do not think we should take any action here. Mr. Bickford said it was apparently a matter to finance. He thought the explanation of the Alinister of Public Works concerning the stoppage was satisfactory. The chamber declined to voice any opinion on the matter.