THE CATLING RIVER RAILWAY,

Otago Witness, Volume 02, Issue 2420, 2 August 1900, Page 29

THE CATL ING 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 anotliei section may be authorised and surveyed lo the Tahakopa Valley, in support of which we beg to urge the following: — 1. That the want of this lailway 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 coiiia have been turned into ' a msirkaiable article had the railway been built, giving «mployment to large numbers of men, all of whom would have contributed to the revenue indirectly. 4. That when the land is cleared and grassed it is admirably adapted for dairying and stockraising purposes, as good shelter can be had in winter. 5. That if a further section is authorised and surveyed to the Tahakopa Valley, further areaa of land will bo taken up, improvements made, and new sawmills erected, and it wcmkl give confidence and hope to oil the setters, and induce others to come, as there is undoubtedly room for a- large population along the bush belt of Otago. 6. That the^c is every probability of coal mines being discovered iv the district, as seams ISm to 2ft thick have already been found, equal 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 House is voting moneys for railway .construction. 8. That it must be. clearly understood, there is no difference of opinion, as to the Toute. This wo 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 varioiis railways so that the resources of the colony may be properly developed, and your petitioners will ever pray.