OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume 29, Issue 1522, 31 December 1898, Page 3

OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

On Saturday.-,l7th inst.; was held at the Shamrock Hotel. 'Blades, a meeting presided over by Mr J. Pitches, which was called for the purpose of discussing- the prosecution of the central railway. Mr Chappie introduced the discussion, and the following inotion was agreed to unanimously Seeing that the.; Otago Central: Railway is open to Ranfurly, and the next section well in hand (that is to Wedderburn) this meeting is of opinion that, a petition should be forwarded to the Hon. Minister for Public Works, pointing out the following facts: —"That Wedderburnjs at-the extreme end of the Maniototo Plains. - Consequently it is not desirable that a permanent station should be established at the Wedderburn, but three miles further on at Drysdale's, which is the junction of the Ida Valley and St. Bathans roads, and all the places lying beyond mnst be served by a station at Drysdale's for all time; also there are at this place four coal pits (from which Naseby and the plains draw their principal supplies) a flour-mill, Rough Ridge reefs, post office, and school."

It was further agreed—'A That a petition be drawn up embodying the first resolution, and be signed on bebalf of this meeting by the chairman and "secretary and forwarded to our member for presentation to the Hon. Minister for Public Works "

The frequent delays in forwarding goods came in for sharp criticism. One gentleman stated that he had received only the previous day a consignment which had left Dunedin a month ago. We are indebted to the Alexandra Herild for the report and for the text of the petition which runs as follows: To the Hon. the Minister for Public Works.

The memorial of the undersigned, who are interested and will be served by the Otago Central Railway, humbly showeth—1. Seeinir that the Otago Central Railway is now opened to Baufurly, we would point out the following facta

(a) That Naßeby will be supplied from Ranfurly and not from Wedderburn, the former being nearer than the latter to Kaseby; also Ranfurly centre of the Uaniototo Plains, wheresjf, Wedderburn is at the extreme end. (b)That Wedderburn is. only three miles from Ur.vsdale'B, which is out of the Uaniototo Plains, and is at the head of Ida Valley, and at which place there are four coalpits (from which Naseby and the plains draw their principal supplies), a flour mill and the Rouirh Rid);« reefs. There is also la public school and post office. (c) That Hill's Greek, St, Bathans, Cambrians, Blackstohe Hill, Becks, and Lauder will be supplied from the Orysdalc's station for all time (without a branch line is constructed to those places), which is on the main coach road and on the Junction of the Ida Valley and St. Bathans roads. 2. For the above reasons we would advocate that the next section on this line be opened to Drvsdnle's as it. is, certain there must be a permanent station at this place. ■We therefore pray thnfc you will give this, our memorial, your best attention.