HAVELOCK.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1880, 15 June 1886, Page 2

HAVELOCK.

IMPORTANT MEETING. [from our own correspondent]. In accordance with the advertisement a public meeting was held in the Town Ball, Havelock, on Saturday evening, to fully discuss the question of railway connection between Blenheim and Nelson. All parts of the district were iufiuenti.il y represented, and, on Mr J. Hornby being voted to the chair, he explained the object of the meeting aod among other remarks stated that from his sawmills alone be w#s paying over L 2.900 for cartage of timber and stores per annum, which at 4 per cent would pay interest on L72,00£), to say nothing of other large flrmsj who, in the aggregate, had spent .no less than L 60.000 in sawmilling plants, eto. He read a telegram from tbo Editor of the Express, who heartily sympathised with the movement, regretted his inability to attend, but promised.all the assistance ha could rend. r. Some of the gentiomep present had resolutions to put before the meeting and he would now call on the mover of the first.

Mr C. H. Mills then stepped forward and B’iid Mr Chairman, and gentteunen.l beg leave to propose—“ That in the opinion of this meeting our district baa been greatly neglected by preceding Governments when allocating the successive national Joans in various counties, thus giving them decided advantages by in. augurating public works which prohibited fair competitinn with ua, specially in our chief industry, the timber trada ; and as the Government now recognise the importance of connecting Marlborough with Nelson, we respectfully urge injustice to ourselves and those with whom we are geographically united that a line ol railway should be constructed ae suggested by the Pelorus Road Board from Blenheim through Renwicktown, Kni* tuna, Havelock, Pelorus and Rai Vallien instead of via Tophouse." In moving this resolution he explained in doing so he felt perfectly justified in obarging previous Governments with neglect, for during his long residence in the district he had carefully watched its progress in comparison with other places not possessing the same natural advantag-s. Some 15 years ago things wore a very pleasant aspeot, as our membors, Captain Kenny and Mr Seymour, had induced the Government to place the sum of L 26.000 on the Estimates for a Havelock and Rai Valley Tramway, and the prospect of this work opening up our large timber tesouroes induced peoplo to settle in the district; but the powers around the throne had something to say and the Government did not keep faith with us, thus necessitating the sawmilleri who had been the backbone of tho distriot and true pioneers of settlement undertaking the work privately, but their limited capital being insufficient it hampered their business and finally caused great loss. And to crown all, they bad been handicijpjd in every conceivable way', first, by the f cilities afforded those fortunate enough to reside iu other part* of New Zealand where tho public works were carried on with vigour ; railways constructed aud sidings put down for their benefit ; then extra wharfage was levied on our timber going into Wellington ; and last, but not least, by a reduction of the railway tariff of 9d per 100 ft betwem Invercargill and Timarn, that marke. was closed to us uuless oar prioeß could be reduued the same amount. These were some of the causes which made capital leave our district and wage* to be reduced, a serious affliction to many families, Then the mining interests had been left to languish without any encouragement, Large sums were expended elsewhere on sluice channels, &c., but not < ven a rote to encourage prospecting had come their way io assist in developing the quartz reefs-known to exist in our vicinity. However, the day would come when our mining industrywould be one of the most prominent, for it was impossible to believe tho Wakamarina river and terraces were the-only auriferous places in such a large district. Very little of the country had been prospected, as owing to the West Coast diggings breaking out about the same time carried away nearly every digger who could afford to go, and the population had never returned. Tbi« onnection by railway would revive every interest and give people from Pioton access to Nelson by a shorter route and open the West Coast to all of our farmers in the Wairau, pissing through a consuming population all the time, sod directly ‘three or four miles were completed there would be a return coming in, whereas tho whole of Tophouse line must be fliished before it would pay to run trains. No one could deny that that our share ol the loans raised had been very small. With only 40 tidies between Havelock and Nelson we had been unable to drive any vehicle through until the last six months and now the road was not all formed. The benefits to be derived from our central position between Blenheim and Nelson were incalculable. He had so little time »t disposal or he would have been prepared with some statistics, but they all knew what a vast tract of land represeated as a source of wealth, and continual employment for steady working men. This interest alone would provide a constant revenue for the railway between -two large cen rea of population re* presenting over 15,900 who all had a voice and should go forward ahoulder to shoulder earnest in their demand to havo the alternate routes judged on their merits, Some people asserted the llqe through Havelock would be only a coast line but it was not so. It waa 30 miles to tbo entrance of Pelorus Sound, and within the heads we Lad a coast line of 360 miles capable of suppoatiog a large Dumber of settlers and fi-jjermen, If they only .had the facility this line would give them fop taking tbeir produce to the best markets while the interchange of farm produce for timber would be a mutual benefit, a reciprocal trade would induce and foster many other industries. On the other islaml where he had visited recently the people were keenly alive to all public matters. Directly the Financial Statement was published, every local body met and dismissed the position, passing strong resolutions to assist their member at his post and it remained for them to follow such ngood ex-1 ample. We were governed as w« deserved to be, and if sluggish and careless about our own welfare wo had no right to challenge our member with neglect. The government proposal was to construct a line of railway from Tophonse to Bleuheim 60 miles, and if taken through the R»i Valley by pfe>ent road it was only 75 and tapped every centre of population, w heaeas when surveys were made he felt confident the distance would mean less than 60. and they could avoid evossiog ihe Rai Saddle, turn up the Alfred Creek, crossing the main range, at somewhat higher altitude but with steady gradient, thus leaving oat all tho long road down the Branch and up the Wangamoa and save hot less thap seventeen miles. Hs asked the meeting to carefully think over this proposal for themselves and' not g n away thinking they had done aU necessary as all the districts interested must work in unanimity together, and urge their claim with all the persistent force they w eri' capable of, at sucoess could not be gained without labour and perseverance. He had great pleasure in moving the resolution. (Loud and continued applause.) Mr A Lambert seconded the resolution, and pointed out how the projected lin e through Renwicktown would nearly sarv, »U the local istmttf ll«l « Topkoats

line could do, while every other centra position would be connected by the lim he advooated. He thought the Btat< Forest* Department acted wisely by re aerving suoh a block of fine timber land aa the Rai Valley, and it would eventua'ly contribute a large revenue to the State, and make our railway self-sup-porting, Ho reminded them that there wa* a time in the affairs of man whioh, taken at the proper momen’, laid* on to fortune, and ho firmly believed this was the exact time to push forward, (H< ar, hear,) , The motion was put and carried unanimouoly, _ . Proposed by Mr Clark —That a committee, consisting of Messrs W. Brownlee, C. H. Mills, J- Hornby, G, Rutland, J. H. Reynolds, G. Crichton and J. A. Lambert, with power to add to their number, be appointed to draw up a petition showing the merits of the line we recommend, He aaid that Marlborongh bad formerly been a portion of the Nelson province, and many people there had still warm sympathies with the residents in this county,and, he believed, would heartily support auoh a petition, . The motion was seoonded by Mr C. F. Horton, and carried. Proposed by Mr J, H, Reynolds That a copy of the preceding resolutions be forwarded to the Premier, Minister of Public works, and Members for Piotcn, VPairau and Nelson respectfully urging them tease every constitutlonal'means to have the LIOO,OOO voted for constructing the line between Blenheim and Nelson, via the Pelorns. and to request Parliament to vote a sufficient snm of money to complete the survey during the recesß. He said this was the first Government that seemed willing t* recognise Marlborough as a part of the Colony as having any importance, and it remained for the constituencies to co-operate with their Members, and insist on having a voice in such a matter of such vital importance to their welfare. Every man in each district Bhould'move together and show they meant what they said by taking more in. tcre tin this scheme daily. Everyone in knew tboTophouse route had nothing to recommend it in comprrision with a line through this district which passed through a settled population whose chief employment was among sawmills, that provided continued work for a railway, so ho had muoh pleasure in moving the resolution. Mr George Rutland seconded and it was carried unanimously. Proposed by Mr Lathbert—That a copy of the resolution be sent to the various local bodies in Marlborugh and Nelson requesting they will give their hoarty cooperation by obtaining signatures to the petition and in giving effect to the resoJutoins pasßed at this meeting. He hud some experience of local bodies and could heartily testify to their efficiency in numerous cases, in fact, once get them interested, no ono could work better, and they did a lot of good iu a quiet way, and he felt sure this mutter would gain their attention. Scaondad by Mr Brownlee, and carried. ResoUed —That a subscription list be circulated throughout the district to defray incidental expenses repetition, etc. Resolved— That the Chairman call a public meeting, to be held at the School, room, Okaramio, on Friday, the 18th init, to give those people residing there an osportuuity for expressing their opinion on the subject. A vote ot thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings,