IMPORTANT MEETING AT FOXTON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4149, 8 July 1874, Page 3

IMPORTANT MEETING AT FOXTON.

(from a correspondent.) An important public meeting was held at Foxton, on Friday evening last, to consider a memorial to His Honor the Superintendent, relative to the conversion of the new road from Sandon to Foxton into a railway. There was a large attendance, several of the settlers having ridden long distances in order to be present.

Mr. ThynxE was voted to the chair, and he explained the objects of the meeting. Mr. H. Sanson stated, that a meeting had been held at Sandon, at which a memorial to His Honor the Superintendent was adopted, urging the conversion of the new road through the Carnarvon block into a railway. The road, which had recently been formed, was of little use to the settlers as it was umnetalled. The people of Sandon were practically shut out from communication with Wellington, although they were distant only seventeen miles from Foxton—one of the best shipping ports on the West Coast. They were obliged to get their supplies via Palmerston, a distance of foi'ty or fifty miles from Foxton, at great inconvenience. The distx-icts of Sandon and Carnarvon were amongst the best in the Province of Wellington, having abundance of wood and water, and the settlers were men of the right stamp. If the proposed railway were constructed they would be able to farm with profit, and to grow sufficient grain to compete with Canterbury in supplying the Wellington market. He had been over the Provinces of Canterbury and Ofcago, and he found that the land in the Sandon and Carnarvon districts was quite equal to it, if not superior. He did not think that the memorial asked too much. The Government had received £IOO,OOO from the sale of land in the district, and had not expended more than £BOOO in public improvements. It was estimated by competent authorities that £25,000 would be amply sufficient for the construction of the proposed railway, which would be far more economical than either a tramway or a road. If they remained inactive, and did not press their claims upon the Government, they woidd find themselves shut out from communication with the metropolis, and lucrative markets, while the surrounding districts were benefiting by the railway system. A railway from Foxton to Sandon would draw all the traffic as far as Marton, and stop the trade via Wanganui ; and the entrance to the Manawatu river could, with comparatively trifling expense, be made equal to that of Wanganui. There was no doubt that the proposed line would pay, as it would stimulate agriculture, and increase the products of the district. He believed the money for the construction of the line could be obtained at 5 per cent, interest without difficulty. The Hon. Mr. Fox had given some attention to the matter, and he was of opinion that the request of the settlers was a reasonable one, and he had promised to use his influence in their favour, and to watch over the memorial, which had been very numerously signed by the people of Sandon, who had also appointed a Vigilance Committee. The merchants of Wellington were largely interested in the question, as they would be able to send consignments by the railway direct to Carnarvon and Sandon. The speaker concluded by urging the settlers of Foxton to co-operate heartily with those of Sandon to secure the object sought. Mr. GowEit agreed with the last speaker that the request was a reasonable one. If the proposed railway were constructed, Sandon and Carnarvon would soon become com-pro-ducing districts. He represented Mr. Larkworthy, of the Bank of New Zealand, and he knew that, were that gentleman present at the meeting, he would be prepared to support the present movement to the utmost. He looked forward to a time, not far distant, when they would commence the drainage of the great swamp, by which a large area of splendid agricultural land would be opened for profitable occupation. Mr. Lowden said the Government would not consider merely whether the railway was desirable or not, but would be influenced by the question of its cost. In order to secure the sympathy of the Government the memorialists would have to show that the railway would be a paying affair. He had carefully estimated the probable income and expenditure on the proposed line, as follows :—Cost of railway, £30,000 ; interest on £20,000, at 5 per cent., £IOOO ; income, 40,000 feet of timber per week, or 2,050,000 per year, at 10s. per 1000 feet, £IO4O ; 200 tons of sleepers, posts, wool, and other produce per year, at 10s. per ton, £l3O ; three storekeepers, receiving 360 tons per year, at 10s. per ton, £1S0; settlers of Sandon, Carnarvon, and Bull's Town, receiving 210 tons per year, at 10s. per ton, £l3O ; total, £I4SO. The Government would therefore not be exposed to any pecuniary risk in undertaking the construction of the lino. The railway would increase the value of the adjacent waste lands, and afford profitable employment to a considerable number of men, many of whom would no doubt settle iu the district. Iu addition to the railway, he hoped the time was not far distant when Foxton would be declared a port of entry. He moved the adoption of the memorial. (The memorial was addressed to His Honor the Superintendent, and embodied the arguments contained in the speeches.) Mr. Tomkins, of Sandon, recapitulated some of the arguments of the former speakers. He contended that a railway would cost less than a road. The advantages of Foxton for the importation of goods from Wellington must be apparent, and only a few days ago a gentleman of large commercial experience had mooted the idea of establishing a wholesale house at that place. Mr. Gower said the passenger traffic alone by the proposed line would yield a revenue of £SOO. Dr. Kockstraw said no estimate had been made for working expenses. Mr. Lowden said, in his estimate of the revenue from the timber trade, he had only calculated one-half the actual sum probably receivable, leaving the remainder for working expenses. (Applause.) The memorial was unanimously adopted, and signed by the meeting. Mr. T. Cook moved, and Mr. Lowden seconded, That the memorial adopted by the meeting be forwarded by the Chairman to his Honor the Superintendent, and that a Vigilance Committee be appointed, consisting of Messrs. Thyne, Lowden, Gray, Dr. Kockstraw, and the mover, which was unanimously agreed to. A vote of thanks was passed to the Sandon Committee for their efforts in the matter, and after a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting terminated. A meeting of the committee was subsequently held.