THE CATLINS RIVER RAILWAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11797, 28 July 1900, Page 12

THE CATLINS RIVER RAILWAY.

The following petition from the Catlins River district, for presentation to the House of Representatives, has been forwarded to Wellington:

' We, the undersigned, sawmillers, farmers, and settlers in the Catlin's and surrounding districts, pray that the Catlin's River railway extension may be pushed on to completion at the earliest date possible, and that another section may be authorised and surveyed to the Tahakopa Valley, in support of which we beg to urge the following: — 1. That the want of this railway is a great hardship to us, as during the winter months we are forced to refuse orders and stop carting ,on account of the distance to the station and the bad roads.

2. That this district contains an unlimited supply of excellent timber, for which there is a great demand, the freight on which would pay good interest on the cost of the railway. 3. That there has been vast quantities of valuable timber and firewood destroyed in the past, and still continues (as the conditions of the settlers' leases'demand it), most of which could have been turned into a marketable article had the railway been built, giving employment to large, numbers of-men, all of whom would have contributed to the revenue indirectly.

i. That when the land is cleared and grassed it is-admirably adapted for dairying and stockraising purposes, an good shelter can be ,had in winter.

5. That if a further section is authorised and surveyed to the Tahakopa Valley, further areas of land will be taken up, improvements made, and new sawmills erected, and it would -give confidence-and hope to all Ihe settlers, and°induce others to come, as there is undoubtedly room for a large population along Ihe bush belt of Otago.

6. That there is every probability of coal ■mines being discovered in the district, as seams 18in to 2ft thick have already been found, equal i in quality to Westport coal. ■ , .

7. That having a big asset in our valuable timber, which will last for many years, we claim that we, are entitled to consideration when your honourable Hou3e is voting moneys for railway construction.

8. That it must be clearly understood, there is no difference of opinion, as to the route. This we agree to leave to the Public Works department.

9. In conclusion, we arc decidedly in favour of the Government adopting a vigorous public works policy, and raising sufficient money to extend the various railways so that the resources of the colony may be properly developed, and your petitioners will ever pray.