CATLIN'S RIVER RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13641, 10 July 1906, Page 2

CATLIN'S RIVER RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Tim following is tho animal report of the Caflins River Railway League for tlm year ending 31st. May, 1906, to be presented at tiio annual meeting in the Board Room, Agricultural Hall Buildings, 011 Thursday afternoon:— Your committee lias tile honour to submit its report for the past 12 months, and in doing so it fools that, allhongh I lie progress of tile Cntlins River railway line has been porliaps somewhat slow during the year jusl; closed, it has nevertheless boon steady, and cach month has seen' the present scction a little nearer completion.

The energies of your committee have been almost entirely directed during this .year to the prosecution of what is known as the Houipapa section, ivhieh extends from the Cntlins River .Station to what will be the Houipapa siding, a total distance oE about three'and a-half miles, The line follows the course of the CatJiiis River along its northern bank, not 011 the flat ground, as that is subject to sudden floods, but on the lower, slopes of (lip wooded hills, which bound the river valley, and at a considerable elevation above the stream. This route, being nil through nigged bush country, necessitates, first, a largo amount of timber felling and clearing; and, secondly, a. series of fairly heavy cuttings, fculvcris. etc. In fact, in more than one place, where rock has been met with, the work' is of such magnitude that llie (jullings nt these particular points will occufiy a. strong gang of men the greater part of a year. Just after leaving the Catlins River Station, too, the line crosses a considerable swamp before it attains the required elevation on the hillside, and the fascining and the subsequent earthwork across the ground have naturally taken a great-, deal of time, and occasioned very slow progress, At (he further mid of the section the line crosses the C'ailins River by what will bo known as the Houipapa Bridge. This bridge, which w« understand is to be nil iron construction. is to be built by Messr? Anderson, of Christchurch, and your committee is informed that the major part of the heavy ironwork is now ready in Christchiirch, and that the completion of tho- bridge will be coincident with the completion of the construction work on this section. A short distance across the river the lino will terminate fur the time being in the Houipapa siding. The site for this is now being eleared and prepared, and the whole section, including buildings, is expected to bo ready for traffic about March next.

With this end in view, and with the knowledge that the Houipapa section presented a fair amount of difficult work, your committee considered it advisable in August last to send n deputation to Wellington in order to lay tho caso of the Catlins railway before the Minister of Public Works, and Messrs Cohen, Fca, and the secretary were appointed for-this purpose. They were most heartily supported by the Otago members, and tho Hon. Mr Hall-.Tonos accorded the depuation a very courteous and cordial hearing. Your commit Ice considers that it is partly due to the representations of this deputation that a very considerable vote was placed on the Estimates for the Catlins-Seaward Bush line, and it has been its constant endeavour during tho past nine months to see that the various works on the Houipapa section were pushed 011 as vigorously as possible. Other matters which have engaged their attention have been the questions of a suitable site for the Houipapa siding, tho recommendation as to whether the Houipapa Bridge should be for railway service only or railway and trafliccombined, etc., and in these—and, in fact, in all—matters relating to tho welfare of tho line, your committee has been most ably seconded by their country correspondents, and particularly by Messrs Gwyn and Lory, representing tho committees at Houipapa and Tahakopa. Your committee fools that the Catlins League and the whole district are indebted to these gentlemen for the interest, they have taken in these letters.

ino proposition which the league has m view after ihe prcsenl soction is opened is the piosecnton of the line to Table Hill. Hcuipapa is lint a halfway house, and were the line to be permitted to stop there indefinitely the opening of the three miles aml_ a-hnlf al present, under construction wouid not prove of very material advantage to tlin slrmrtrlinj; sotllers of Tuhakopa Valley: but with Ihe line onco open to Table Hill it becomes practicable for the 'J'ahakopa residents to reach the railway station antl return in the same day. It is. in short, after (lie opening of the Table Hill Station that Jho real development of the Tahnkopa Valley must commence, and it is, thereforo, to fho completion of the six or eight miles of railway line separatng Ilouipapa from Table Hill that the league must now devote all its energies and influence. We are informed that on this section the line must pursue an up grade, that the works, although not, of special magnitude, will not be of an easy character, and on that account a substantial vole will be required to carry thrline through. Bearing this in mind, your commttce considered it opportune to bold a special meeting; of the league during show week, at which ihe country delegates and Catling residents, the Of ago members, the executive could have an opportunity of expressing their opinions in regard to this important work. Ths meeting was well attended, and your committee was much gratified lo hear from the various Otago members a very decided expression of opinion as to the claim? of the Catlins railway. The league is also indebted to Ihe president (Mr Robert Chisholm) for his exhaustive and lucid statement of the resources of the district, and to the country settlers.

many of whom attended at considerable personal inconvenience. , Statement of revenue and expehses is attached hereto, showing a credit balance of £22 16s 7d, in addition lo which the current year's subscriptions arc now in course of collection.

Your committee fools that in tile dealh of the Tiitrht Hon. Mr Seddon, for many years Premier of this colony, I In' C'atlins lino hns lost ;i warm friend all') ardent .supporter, and one who made il his personal oare to make himself ihorouirhly Acquainted wtih the requirements and necessities of (lie. settlers in all back-countrv districts. 11l conclusion. your committee would ttrce r,u members of the leafme. and Dun-c-din business per>]>l*? in narticnlar, ihe absolute necessity for the vigorous proscrtition of (lie Catlins railway. It is the oniv means by which Ihe Catlins district, will its masnilicent timber and dairying resources, can be exploited. It is a railway of so short a. mileage that it may bo readily pushed home to an effective and

definite termination; it is a railway which pays its way as it. goes, and which will always bo a profitable feeder to this city and port; and it. is a railway whoso merits liavo only been equalled by tlm modesty of its demands on tho public purse. During the past. 10 years only 3J> mili>s of this lino have boon opened for I radio, ami another 3i arc under confctruction, and in view of these facts your rommitli'e considers that Iho time lias arrived when it is the lxiunden duty of all i/iworwd I/) press for the speedy compillion of the Callin's River railway to Tuliukopa.