NORTHERN RAILWAY EXTENSION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 5227, 20 November 1877, Page 3

NORTHERN RAILWAY EXTENSION.

A meeting, convened by advertisement, wan held at M'Loan’s Hotel, Amberiey.on Saturday evening, to consider the proposed extension of 15 miles ai provided for’by the late Ministry. : Mr 8. Douglas was voted to the chair, and balled attention to the meetinglately ‘held at Waikari, which be characterised as!a meeting of large landholders, who would, of course, have their properties considerably improved in value by an extension,ofthe line. In his.: opinion, the proposed extension for; so short a distance would not pay. There was no new country to open up. He would hot detain the meeting longer, but would ball on some

one present to move a resolution. ‘ Mr Benn had considered the questionfully, and vuof opinion that to extend theiiaefor 10 short a distance as proposed was * mistake. Heooaidsee little advantage in it; the traffic Jiae was good,-but with an extension such as that proposed, the Northern traffic would oome under the long distance tariff, which would' be a decided loss. To judge from the coach, the passenger traffic would not bo very large. He fully agreed with a trank line through the country, bat let them wait uutil we can get the line through to the West Coast, and pot go in for extensions that are hot Only comparatively useless/but decidedly unprofitable. From private information he knew that the late Ministry would hot have gone oh with this line. Be nod seen - their member (Mr J.H. Brown) lately, and believed that it was no breaohofodnfidenoo on hie part ifhe told the meeting that Mr Brown wasinfavourof the terminus remaining where it is, and that aresolution passed bf a meeting held here would strengthen Mr Brown’s bands in the House in opposing this short extension, and getting a sum placed on the estimates for the through line - to! the Coast. The resolution whioh had been plaoed in his hands to propose was as follows s— ■ “That this meeting having in view the proposed exteniion of the Northern railway a .distanpe of 15 miles, earnestly requests their member ia the House to use bis best endeavours, either to obtain a sufficient sum to be put on the estimates to carry the main trunk line through to the West Coast at once, or to stop the proposed short extension.’ \ He need not recapitulate the reasons against this extension-- j ■■ The resolution was seconded by Mr Grey, pro found. • ■ ' , _ Mr F. Courage could,not egree with Mr Bonn’s remarks. It looked to him very much as if j having got the .railway accommodation they required, they begrudged it to their peigb* hours, which was a most dog in the-manger way of looking at it. As to the extension paying or not that woe a question for the -Government to consider, and he should {place sufficient confidence in the Canterbury teembers to allow them to be’able to judge| At to whom the railways were made for, it wee certainly nol clear to him that this extension would vpenefit, one or two individuals |only; ; Amberley had been the terminus longer than many i hod anticipated, and much at he woe intereeted in Amberley he eonld not sympa. thise with a resolution which showed such .bad formosthe one now before the meeting. He was not prepared to move an amendment, but. should'tortaihly vote against Mr Bonn’s resolution. ? j Mr Grey would 'move.as an amendment that ill words after fat once’’ should be •truck out ofMr Benn’s resolution. ' Whilst in favour of the line to tbs Ooost being proceeded with as soon as possible, he could not agree to obstrnot the railway'polioy by stopping any extension the Government might eons id sr necessary. It wee hardly for them to decide as to whether the line would pay dr hot. "" V,

. The amendment baring been eeocnded w»* ■putto the meeting, end deolaredloet. Mr Berin’e original motion wae carried amidil applauM with two dUeentieuta. On the motion of Mr Bean, a copy of the reeolution peered waediwoted to be cent to Ur Brown, M.H.8.,t0 mot on ifheooceidered it conduciveto the welfare of the oohntry. A rote ofthanke to the Chairman terminated . the proceeding*. The room vae OrOWded. . -.. y.-;;- L .