Manawatu Junction Railway.

Manawatu Herald, 21 December 1893, Page 3

Manawatu Junction Railway.

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The public meeting summoned by Mr Wright HteWart, C.E., to hear the details of his scheme for the formation of this Junction line was held on Wednesday evening in the Public Hall, and was largely attended by a fully representative number of those interested. On the motion cf Mr T. Mitchell, His Worship the Mayor, Mr T. P. Williams, was voted to the chair, and in a short but sympathetic and appropriate speech introduced Mr Stewart, pointing out the bene fits certain to accrue to the town of Foxton and all the surrounding district from the successful launching and carrying out of such scheme. Mr Stewart, who was well received, after some preliminary remarks proceeded at considerable length, but with great clearness to unfold the do* tails of his plan which, he stated, is the finished result of several years' study and anxious thought. We are not able, of course, in this hasty report to give the multiplicity of details set before his audience by Mr Stewart, or to sketch minutely his financial proposals which are of a somewhat complex character. It must suffice, in the meantime, for us to state that they evidently commended themselves to the judgment of . the audience, who listened througout with the keenest iaterest and manifested their approval from time to time by hearty applause. At the conclusion of his exposition several questions were asked by gentlemen anxious "to know you know." These were answered in detail by Mr Stewart, who has a happy knack of conveyipg his ideas in intelligible language. After a stirring speech from Mr Mitchell and various suggestions from others present the following residents were proposed, seconded, and unanimously appointed a committee to raise a certain sum to be expended by Mr Stewait in defraying the preliminary expenses involved in floating the projected company : — Messrs T. Easton, A. S. Easton, B. Gower, G. Gray; P. Hennessy, S. Howan, W. Haraer, T. Mitchell, E. Osborne, J. W. Walsh, T.,P. Williams, A. Perrean and J. Rr McMillan. A cordial vote of thanks to Mr Stewart and of confidence in his project was then oarried by acclamation, and the meeting closed with the usual cour. tfesies to the chair. The committee entered upon its duties at once, and in almost the twinkling of an eye the sum of £65 was subscribed by gentlemen present and placed in the hands of Mr E. Osborne, who had been appointed Treasurer, pro tern. The feeling in favour of the projected line was unmistakable, and equally un mistakably its successful consi ruction would be the commencement of a new era of progress and prosperity not only for Foxton, but for the whole district through which it would pass.