KAWAKAWA- WHANGAREI RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9012, 27 March 1888, Page 6

KAWAKAWA- WHANGAREI RAILWAY.

A public meeting was held in the Town Hall, Kawakawa, on March 21, convened by Mr. John Hall, county councillor for Kawakawa Riding, to consider the advisability of securing railway communication between this township and Kamo and W hangarei. There was a large attendance. Major Stoney occupied the chair, and said the meeting was to discuss the Bill which Mr. Hobbs, M.H.R., introduced last session into the House of Representatives to carry out this railway work. The Bill had for its object to obtain from the Government a grant of land, including a portion of the Puhipuhi forest, and to form a company of capitalists to construct the line upon the land grant system. He explained that one of the objects of the proposed railway was to open up the large deposits of coal in the Hukeranui district, the immediate occupation of the land adjoining the railway line, and creating a large trade in the timber resources of the district. The timber supply of the Puhipuhi forest was estimated at over 300,000,000 feet. He called upon Mr. Hall to move the first resolution. . Mr. Hall stated that he had received a letter from Mr. Hobbs (who would himself address them later on), requesting him to call a public meeting of the electors, to ventilate their views on his intended action, so that if he had their unanimous support and approval it would strengthen his hands in the House of Representatives. As had been explained bv the chairman, he again urged forward the Bill for the Kamo-Kawakawa Railway line. He moved, "That this meeting, fully alive to the vast advantages and advancement of the settlements of the district, and general employment, do most cordially support and encourage their representative in urging forward Railway Bill for the Kamo-Kawakawa line." Mr. F. McKenzie, in a very warm and energetic speech, opposed the scheme and its originator, asserting that it would do injury to the country to give up so much land and magnificent forest to English capitalists, who would employ the cheapest labour, Chinese or other imported labour— the detriment of the settlers, and thus produce greater general depression in the labour market. Such a syndicate would look to the recouping of the advanced capital, and would not care for the good or advancement of the colony. Whilst he advocated a railway, he strongly opposed this scheme, and moved as an amendment, " That this meeting views with distrust the proposed syndicate to form the Kamo-Kawakawa railway, and do therefore oppose and object to Mr. Hobbs's bill now before the House." Several speakers addressed the meeting, particularly Messrs. Goodhue and Moore, who refuted in every instance the statements of Mr. McKenzie, and showed the advantages the syndicate had over the Government in such work.

On the amendment being put to the meeting only four voted for it. The chairman then put the original motion, when the whole body of the electors stood up, and the motion was carried by acclamation. Mr. Hall then proposed, "That a committee be formed to canvass the electorate in the Bay of Islands for signatures, and prepare an address accordingly and forward the same to their representative." This was agreed to, and the following gentlemen were chosen : —Messrs. J, Hall, Charles Goodhue, J. Moore, J. Black, G. Brewer, F. McKenzie, J. Steward, and Major Stoney, four to form a quorum. A vote of thanks being accorded to the chairman the meeting separated. At a meeting of the committee held subsequently, Major Stoney chairman, a form of address embodying the resolutions carried was drawn up, and the plan of action to canvass for signatures early, and to forward the same to Mr. Hobbs by the next mail day, was agreed to.—[Own Correspondent.]