RAILWAY MEETING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 16, 18 October 1878, Page 3

RAILWAY MEETING.

A meeting of the promoters of the Fox. ton-Sandon Railway Committee was held at the County Chambers, Foxton, yesterday, at 930 a.m. Resent: From Sandon— Meswa Sanson, Tompkins, Bowater, fed. wards, ana Bishop; from Carnarvon - Messrs Dawson, Rockel, and M'Kenzie; from Foxton — Messrs Thynne, Loudon, Gray, Rockstrow, and Perreau. Mr Thynne was voted to the chair. The Chairman Baid the present was the most important meeting that had been held regarding the interests of both districts. He wonld take ihis opportunity of testifying to the zeal displayed by the people of Sandon, and thanked their members present for their goodness in coming down. He thought they had taken greater interest than the people of Foxton. After the minutes of the last Sandon meeting had been read by Mr Trior, Hon. Secretary, Mr Sanson said if they were to succeed, they must rely more upon themselves, instead of trusting to Mr Campbell and othns, as they had done in the past. If they had been more self-reliant, they would hare had the train running now. The Snndon people always kept on pushing ahend in the matter, and let no opportunity slip of gaining information. He had found from the Gazette returns, that New Zealand railways paid an average of £150 per mile This was encouraging, inasmuch as that Bum per mile on the proposed Fandon line, would pay the exact amount required, viz, 7 per cent. Mr Macandrew had stated the Government would let them have rails ut cost price, if in stock. The cost would be abott £5 12s 6d per ton. If not obtained from the Government, the cost would be about £1 more per ton. A traveller for Turnbull k Co had offered the day before, on behalf of that firm, to supply them even cheuper than the Government, ns their buyers at home could purchase them at a less cost than the Government. This would effect'a great saving, as Mr Barton's estimate of the cost was .£lO per tor for the | railß. The next question wa«i, would the line pay ? Borne persons thought the line I might be worked with a rate levied, but that the Company would lose money. Hitherto they had no reliable data to meet | unch objections, but now, however, that the j Government had offered to work the line, he thought only 80 per cent would bo required for working expenses, leaving the 50 per cent to the Company, for interest. &c. no was willintr that for two years, the Government should take nil. They had promised to work the line upon the aamo mr..->nditiong as those made with other compa4Riies, and he understood some other lines •were worked by the Government at 60 per cent. The rating proposed was not heavy, viz, j?250 between the two townships, (as Class I), nnd 4d, 3d. nnd 2d, for Classes 11, 111, and IV, mpectively. In Cantcrbmy, on the Kakaia nnd Ashburton Forks Line, the people had rated themselves at 9d, Bd, 6d, and 4o\— so that we start where they leave off". The proposed line was over a level district, presenting no engineering difficulties, and country would bo opened up all alonp the route. There was no foar of the people being called on for rates after two or three years, and at the worst it was only 4d per acre. There wan no need to fear going into it. He understood theHon Mr Campbell would take £5.000 worth of shares, and he might take double that amount. The firot f hin g was to arrange for the rate to ha struck nnd the district classified, and then to have the prospectus printed, uud the share list Mr Tompkins policed om, in addition to the figured gircjAy Mr San-on. thnttakinjr the. avpris* of Sew Zealand lines of rail"""vr*y, The Sandon lino would pny oil expenses. Th»t rate would not be required for two years, and during the interval property would be largely enhanced in value,— in fact, to such, an extent as greatly to relieve the ratepayers. Mr Sanson moved, and Mr Loudon seconded, "Tint the map prepared by Mr Thvnne be accepted, as describing the Troposed railway district, and that the various classifications be accepted." The proposition was carried artor a long discussion. An amendment proposed by Mr M'Kenzie that no land within 3 miles of Port Bangitikei, Halcombe, or Feilding should be taxed, was lost. The Secretary was instructed to confer with Thynne, Linton, and Co, as to the drawing up of the necessary plans, &c. Mr Prior, of Sandon, was inst meted to draw up the necessary legal documents for the formation of the Railway Company. Tho formal resolution constituting the , Company was moved by Mr Sanson and carrioit ; the name to bp, " The Foxton and Saupon Railway Company." The provisional directors wero appointed from the Foxtou and Sandon Buh-cominittetß. The capital of the Company was fixed at £30,000, in 6,000 shares of ±5 each. Voteß of thanks were passed to the Chairman and Hon Secretary.