CATLIN'S RIVER RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13198, 3 February 1905, Page 2

CATLIN'S RIVER RAILWAY LEAGUE.

JlAti ordinary mooting of tho Catlin's River Railway League was held in Mr D.-M. IV S rooms yesterday afternoon, when there \ve:o present Messrs G. Fonwick (in the chair), G. Brown, W. Taylor, H. F. Moss, and J, Waters (hon. - secretary). An apology ior absence was received from Mr K, Chishohn. The Secretary read a copy of his letter (already published) to the Premier and the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, and also replies from the Premier, stating that tho letter had been forwarded on to the Minister of Pubiio Works, and from the TJnder-jccrotary for Public Works stating that, tho league's representations regarding the necessity for pushing on formation works and providing 011Lployment for those in the district requiring it would receive the earliest consideration of the Government. With regard to employment, authorities had boon issued for several road works in the district. The Secretary then said these communications had been published in order to acquaint the settlers with what was being done. Some time later, as nothing had, been done, he again wrote to the Pubiio Works Department asking what stops wore to bo taken, but he had received no reply so far.

The following letter from Mr .T. Cooper, ' of Eatanui, under dato January 31, was read to the meeting:— In reply to your letter of the 26th inst. wishmg to know if there are any signs of progress oil tho new scction, I am very sorry to have to report that there has been nothing done to it further than the flying survey that Mr Dobson did when he started here at first, Mr Stewart, who was sent here to fill Mr Dobson's place, started out at the IfLcnnan River, and , is still there., As far as I can ascertain, he seems to have some trouble in getting a grade westerly, from • Table • Hill , saddle up theM'Lcnnan Eiver to get through Mouat's Saddle, the difficulty being the broken and rough country'to go through. But I think—now the route,is decided upon from the Catlin's Riverterminus as far as Table Hill saddle, that is a distance of somewhere about 10 miles—it is a great pity that we cannot get another sectionstarted, as it would be a great benefit to the nettlers up the 'Catlin's River and Houipapa in getting away posts, props, firewood, etc, where, as now, owing to tho condition of the roads, they have to abandon such ideas and look for a living elsewhere. There are a lot of settlers here now out of work, and I am sure they would all be pleased to see the line go ahead so that they could get employment nearer home than going elsewhere'to look for it. . The road works in this district are very poor for tho workmen, as there is only a few chains of metalling dome here and there, and when the least rain falls they are knocked off because of the cutting up of the roads, and usually tho vote for such works is' eaten up beforo the; work is nearly completed; hence the, impassable roads. That your, league will-be buc-' cessfnl in getting another scction started as. soon as possible is the wish of the settlers in this district. , '

Mr J. Craig, of Owaka, writing on Janu- ' ary-;31, said:—. I have to report that there are no -signs of further progress by way of starting the bush-, felling for a further extension of the line. I trust that repeated representations will be made to tlio member to commence tho bushfelling work. Tho prospecting indications of a good coal being found near Owaka are very satis--factory, and in the near future this branch line '- has the prospect of an increased t-raffio through this find, which fact, should give greater 'encouragement to the members of the league to vigorously push for a further extension,

Mr Craig forwarded several samples o£ the coal, and one piece, appeared to be good, hard, black coal, but tho other • samples crumbled easily. In reply to Mr Moss, tbo Secretary said he had drawn the attention of tlio Minister, to tbo fact that if tho works were not commenced now no work could bo. done before the end of the winter. Mr Fenwiek said it seemed to him that tho league should not ceaso to remind tho. Government of the urgent necessity t-hero was for proceeding with the formation ami'-. construction works. The lino was being treated- with almost contemptuous indifi'er- , once by the Government, and tho same procedure was being adopted in regard to the Otago Central, after the Premier's promises at Omakau. He (Mr Fonwick) • thought the secretary should write again expressing the league's disappointment that no steps were being taken by the Publip Works Department to take advantage o| tho summer weather to prosecuie this work. On the motion of Mr Moss, it was rev' solved to write to the Public "Works Department regretting that no intimation had yot been received of the Government's de- - cision in respect to prosecution of formation work on the line. It was also decided to write to.the City and Olutha narliamentajr --representatives, and Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R., requesting them to individually'press thp matter upot: the attention of the Pubiio Works Departmont. • ; This ooncluded the biisiness. j