PROPOSED PENINSULA AND OCEAN BEACH RAILWAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3923, 12 September 1874, Page 2

PROPOSED PENINSULA AND OCEAN BEACH RAILWAY.

A meeting of gentlemen interested in, or favourable to, the formation of a: raiiway to the Ocean Beach and Peninsula was held at the Proyincfal Hotel yesterday. There was a large attendance of mercantile men and residents of the Flat, Anderson's Bay, arid Porfcobello, including His Honour the Superintendent. ■ •

We regret that on account of the reporters being directed to leave, we cannot give a full report, but as we learn it was not the intention of the meeting generally to exclude reporters, and having been subsequently requested to publish as much as possible of what took place, we give the following resmnd, which we have collected, of the proceedings. . . ■ ■

Mr E. B. Caegill was called to the chair. He read the following circular convening the me-ting:—

Proposed Peninsula and Ocean Beach Branch Railway Company (Limited). . Dunedin, September 4th, 1574. i' Sir—l am requested ,tw iuvite; your afcteDcfciiice to a meeting of those interested in, or favourable to, the above project, to be held at the Provincial Hotel here on Tuesday, the llth inst., at 12. Should you prior to the meeting borne in contact with any interested in the matter, and whose name I may have overlooked, I shall be obliged by your inviting them to be present.—l remain,

J. B. Bradshaw, Hon. Sec.

The approximate cost of the proposed line was, it appeared, as; follows :—Dunedin to Ocean Beach, 2£ milts, £7000; from near Mr Tolinie's to Portobello, vid Anderson's Bay, 94 miles, £30,000; Portobello to Heads 5£ miles, £18,000; total, £55,000. ' Mr Jas. Smith stated that, at his request, Mr Barr, of the firm of Messrs Bass- and Oliver, and formerly Provincial Engineerhad made a fiying survey of the proposed railway xo the Forbury, commencing at a point near the Anderson's Bay Toli-bar, proceeding along the foreshore parallel with the Anderson's Bay Road as far as Mr Tolmie's corner, thence across the Anderson's Biy Road : a«id Mr J). Proudfcot's property to the Sandhills, and then parallel with the Sandhills down to the 'Forbury Road. Mr Barr bad fonnd that there were no engineering difficulties whatever to be encountered, that the line would involve very simple earthwork, and that the total expenditure, including stations, was estimated at £7000. He (Mr Smith) had no doubt himself that the line would prove very i remunerative at OBce, that it would induce I a great number of people to settle in the -i neighbourhood of the Forbury when that locality was brought within ten minutes' reach of town, and that the railway would • be much used by the citizens for the purpose of enjoying the beautiful Ocean Beach. Another source of traffic was likely to arise from the establishment of a large bathing establishment near the Forbury Headland, a place which was admirably suited for the purpose. He thought the line as far as Anderson's Bay would prove remunerative at once. With regard to the extension of the line to the Peninsula, not being sufficiently well acquainted with the Peninsula, he did not venture fco express an opinion as to whether the time had arrived for making that part of the line, but there were gentlemen ia the room more familiar than himself with the locality who would be able to express an opinion on the point. Hrs Ho sous spoke to the effect that he had not the slightest doubt that the line along the Peninsula would pay well. Mr Seaton strongly supported the formation of the line along the Peninsula, believing that it would pay better than any other portion. The fact that the Port Chalmers line could hardly overtake its work, he cited in support of the desirability of the construction of the Peninsula line. .

The objects for which the meeting was called we-e unanimously approved of, and a Provisional Committee was appointed to collect all necessary information, and to submit a prospectus to a future meeting, in order to the formation of a Company. The Provisional Committee to consist of Messrs E. B Cargill, Christie, R. M. Robertson, Rainbird Reynolds, Green, M'lndne, vSeaton,D.Proud•foi.t, Wm. Robertson (of Sanofly Bay) Geo Wilson, W. H. Cutten, W. Bacon ' G w' Eliott, Adam Begg, W. J. M. Laruach, Jasi bmith, George G. Rohettson, aud Taiaroa with |over to add to their number. ' The project was mooted some time ago when ifcuas proposed to make a railway to the Ocoan Beach, but it'liis.i»w taken the more extended aud more dtiinite futin shown in the foregoing.