OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2363, 8 June 1899, Page 21

OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE.

The monthly meeting of the Executive Committee of the Otago Central Railway League was held in the Chamber of Commerce on Monday night ; present — Messrs A. Bathgate (Chairman), J. Carroll, T. K. Harty, T. Brown, T. W. Kempthorne, B. Hallenstein, W. Barron, J. Jolly, jun., and W. E. Reynolds.

Apologies for non-attendance were received fron* Messrs G. L. Denniston, J. C. Thomson, and G. Howden.

Mr M. J. S. Mackenzie, M.H.R., wrote acknowledging the receipt of a resolution passed by the executive at its last meeting, with reference to the necessity for pushing on the line, and stating that he had forwarded it to the Minister for Railways, speoially drawing his attention to the importance which the dredging industry now lends to the neighbourhood of Clyde and Alexandra. In addition, when he reached "Wellington, he would personally impress the fact on tne mind of the Minister.

The Chairman said he had written to Mr Millar, M.H.R., with respect to some figures that were necessary for the annual report, and had received the following reply: — "In reply to your favour of th« lst.ult., re expenditure on the Otago Central railway last year, I beg to inform you that the only information I have to hand is that the expenditure and liabilities at 3lßt March last were about £31,000 for the year ended 31st March last. This is £9000 lees than the appropriation." Tha Chairman read tha following latter.

dated Juno 1, sent to the secretary of tha league by Mr John M'Kay, of Wedderburn :

Since my last communication of the 31st March I beg to inform you that the works on the Ranfurly-Wedderburn section have been progressing satisfactorily. All the deep cuttings in the vicinity of Eden Creek are kept well manned — i.e., six men at each cutting, there being no room for more to work comfortably. I would roughly estimate that it will take at least four months yet to complete some of the cuttings. All the piles are on the site of the ■^-••olmrn bridge, and I notice that a party ol men were ;gdt; B ? 'the derrick in readiuess last week, so it is evident this work will be in full swing soon. -iv the -Wedderburn-Ida valley section, which was d the b •* mng of April, I have to state c „„.,!.„ culverts, one large and two snuß^J^ completed to date. The masons were forcea~C^^ give up work for a time owing to the sever<3~ frosts. New gangs of men are being put on every week, there being now some nine gangs at work in the different cuttings on this section. One gang was put on last week at the S9-mile peg, which I believe is the highest altitude of the Otago CentraJ railway between Dunedin and Wanaka Lake. I cannot give you an authentic account of the number of men employed on the works between Raufurly and Ida Valley, but I would roughly estimate that there are about 150 or 160 all told. The Government having reserved a site for a reservoir some two miles below the Ida Valley station site, and the line being surveyed through this reservoir site, it will be necessary to make a new survey of the line, but I do not think this matter will materially delay the construction of that section.

It was resolved—" that the annual meeting of tho league be held on Thursday, 15th June, at 8 o'clock, in the Town Hall, and that his "Worship the Mayor be requested to invito lepresentatives from the city and suburban councils, the Chamber of Commerce, and other public bodies, as well as the general public, to attend."