OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2363, 8 June 1899, Page 34

OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE.

The following is the report of the executive of the Otago Central Railway League, which is to be presented at the annual meeting on the 15lh inst. : —

Since the preservation of the last annual report the railway has been opened to Ranfurly, and it may be said to have at last reached the fringe of Central Otago, fox though it may have now scaled the " garden wall," to U3e the classic phrase of the late Hon. Vincent Pyke, the railway cannot yet be said to have attained the more promising and desirable portions of " the garden." The Banfurly section was opened for traffic on Ist December, 1898, and your executive lost no time in urging upon the Government the necessity of putting in hand the next section to Wedderburn, which section it is to be regretted has made nothing like such rapid progress as might and ought to have taken place, especially when the easy character of th". formation is taken into account.

It has frequently been found that the progress of the line has been seriously retarded because the contracts for necessary bridge works were not entered upon in time. An instance of this kind Is- to be found this year in the case of the bridge to cross Eweburn Creek, the contract for which has, it is understood, been let to be completed withing nine months from Ist November last.

Your executive have also from time to time urged upon the Government the desirability of putting in hand the formation of the line through the Poolbum Gorge, which is the only piece of keavy work, excepting the bridging oi the Marmherikia River, between the present terminus and Clyde, but so far the efforts of your executive have not borne any apparent beneficial result. This is to be regretted, as the construction of that portion oi the line between Wedderburn, the terminus of the section now in hand, and the beginning of the Poolbum section is of the simplest character, requiring little more than the laying of the rails on the present surface of the ground, so that the formation of this, the Idaburn section can be speedily accomplished, and but the intervention of the Gorge the line might be opened within a few months tc the Manuhelikia Valley.

Taking advantage of a visit of the Premier to Dunedin a deputation from your executive waited on him on 27th February last, with reference to the progress of the railway. The Premier, in his recent visit to the interior, had to judge from his remarks, been strongly impressed with the value of the latent capabilities of Central Otago, as he discoursed to the deputation regarding the desirability of piomotmg irrigation and tree-planting as aids towards the development of the district, though he must have been aware that the construction of the railway was the first step towards profitable settlement.

If any additional argument were required for pushing on the line it is to be found in the recent large development of the dredgiug industry, winch has already added considerably to the population of parts of Central Ota^o, and must continue to do so, while the Government dfrive an increased revenue from the mining rents and fees, to say nothing of the indirect benefits arising from incieased customs revenlie and taxes paid by the companies. As it was desired by Mr Beeves and other members of the league that some expression of opinion should be given on the desirability of raising a loan for the immediate and speedy construction of the line, a public meeting wis held immediately after the close of the last annual meeting, and such a resolution was submitted, but, notwithstanding the strong Jesire evinced by those present for the speedy construction of the line, the fear that the carrying of such a resolution might aid in the introduction of an era of lavish borrowing and expenditure led to the rejection of the resolution by a substantial majority. Mr Hallecstein, a member of your executive, being of opinion that a similar motion nught meet with a different fate this year owing to the altered circumstances of Central Otago, gave notice of his intention to move such a motion at the annual meeting this jx-or, but owing to his absence from Dunedin he will be unable to. do so.

The votes and expenditure on U;l a railway for the last five years have been •

The Executive regret that they are unable to give the exact figures of expenditure for the year ending. 31st March last, but Mr Millar, M.H R., has informed them that the expuidil/iire and liabilities up to that date were about £01,000. thus showing that a large sum was agsuii allowed to lapbe, e<=t)ecia!ly when it is remembered that, the amount of the contract for the T3weburn bridge mn=t be included in the liabilities and will come out of the vdte for the current financial year.

Mr R. Logan, of Kokon^a, who had for ?ome considerab'a time rendered valualj'e ad to your executive by his monthly report* on the propress of the lire, re° : gned his membership cm the executive i>i September last, for th« reason that the then voiks were too rh-jtant from his residence to en i^lo him to continue his reports, and xpnx executive reauestod Mr John. M'Kay,

of Wedderburn, to act in Mr Logan's stead, which he kindly undertook to do, and has since supplied the executive with, much interesting and valuable information.

A duly audited statement of receipts and expenditure for the year is appended.

The mayor of Dunedin, being ex officio chairman of the league, Mr Cargill {the late mayor) vacated his seat on his retirement from the mayorality, the present mayor (Mr Swan) succeeding him as chairman. The term for which the present members of tha Executive Council were elected having expired, it will be part of the business of the meeting to elect an Executive Council of not more than 20 members for the current year.

LS94-5 1595-6 1896-7 LS97-8 1898-9 v otes. £45,000 25,000 25.000 30,000 40,000 Expenditure. £28,130 29M76 25,238 29,535 ■unknown