CATLIN'S RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Volume 14, Issue 2648, 14 December 1904, Page 14

CATLIN'S RAILWAY LEAGUE.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Catlins Railway League was held at Mr D. M. Fea's office on Thursday afternoon, and was attended by Messrs R. Chisholm (president), D. M. Fea, M. Cohen, G. Fenwick, W. Taylor, H. F. Moss, G. Brown, and J. B. Waters (hon. secretary).

The Chairman said that while lie wag in Wellington he interviewed the Minister of Public Works with regard to the question of jroviding employment for the settlers, and had put the matter as forcibly before him as he could. The Minister explained that the amount voted for tho Catllns line this year was not large — only ABOOO. He (Mr ChJsholrn) had stated lhafc the league did not ask the Ministry to spend money that had not been voted, but it wanted to see' .that the sum - of«d was expended, and that advantage was takou at once of the fine weather usually experienced at this time of year in ort.'er to> prosecute the extension of the line as vigorously as possible. There would be extreme difficulty in carrying out the work during the winter, and it was highly necessary that the- money should be expended while the weather was good. The Minister recognised that there was scarcely any xise in carrying the work on during the winter, and he promised to bring the matter before the Cabinet at the first meeting. The Hon. Mr Hall-Jones said the league wfuld 1-ave to remember that the £8000 voted waa for, both ends of the line. He (Mr Chisholm) said -the league understood that ihe bulk of the money was intended for the Catlins one! of the line, and it would like to tee something done in the direction of starting another section. The Minister replied that the survey of the next section had been completed, and so far as he knew (but he would make further inquiries) everything was now ready for employing some mon. In addition, the Minister had promised to see that tho men out of employment would be put on either road works or on 'the railway works, if he could get the latter pushed on. Tho Hon. Mr H-all-Jones said the league might rest assured that something would be done for the settlers who' were out of employment.

l\lr Moss said he had received letters indicating that it was very necessary that work should be found for the settlers, many of whom wore hard up at the present time. The Chairman ■ said he had pointed out to the Minister that the opening up of the next section would undoubtedly be ':! very great benefit to the settlers. He belie .'cd there were some sawmillers who were willing to cut timber and send it to Durfedin if the line were opened to Houipapa "Valley. Mr Taylor pointed out that the material for the bridge would have to be imported, and also that the vote would lapse >if it were not spent by March 31.

The Chairman said the Minister took very much the same view as most members of the league, in that he recognised that the railway must be pushed on to Tahakopa Valley in order to be of real benefit to the settlers. Although the vote this year was small the appropriation would be larg&r as soon as the Ota-go Central line was carried to a certain point. He had impressed ,on the Minister the fact that Southland was well supplied with timber, and that there was no reason why the Catlins line should not be pushed on in order to 'enable the timber in the district to be brought to Dunedin. Whatever amount of money was voted the league was extremely anxious that it should be spent as quickly a? possible on the further extension of the line.

In reply to a question by Mr Fenwick the Chairman stated that the bridge necessary on ihe next section was not yet in existence. Absolutely no steps had been taken to order any part of the material, and even the plans- and specifications were not preparsd.

Mr Waters thought it would be better to push on the formation work, and thus give the setclers employment.

Mr Cohen moved — " That in view >of the dearth of err.ployinent amongst the settlers at Houipapa and Tahakopa, and owing to the demand for building timber, the Cabinet be urged to at once put in -hand the formation work on the section recently surveyed." In speaking to the motion, Mr Cohen said it seemed to him that the league could not bo accused of selfishness or unfairness in asking for £5000 out of the £8000 voted for the line.

The motion was seconded by Mr Taylor, and carried unanimously, and it was decided! to send a copy of the resolution to the Premier and the Minister of Public Works.

The Chairman furnished a report with reference to the deputation that waited on the Scenic Preservation Commissioners. In the course of his remarks, he_ stated thafc the chairman of the commission had evidently beon in the Catlins district, before, and had been very much impressed with the district for scenic purposes. The commissioners had made up their minds to spend several days in the district, and then decide what recommendations they would make. A considerable area at the Long Beach, at the road just before Tahakopa River was reached, had already been reserved.

A letter was received from Mr Craig, of Owaka, who stated that the survey of the line was "proceeding, but to what extent he could not exactly say, as he was getting out of touch with the line-. There was nothing to stop the further extension of the line to Houipapa, no matter what route the lifte might take beyond that point, and', further, there was a considerable number of settlers with very small holdings who were out ef work, and who wanted something to do. This was a good season of the year to proceed with the work, and he would recommend the league to urge on the Minister of Public Works that bushfelling be proceeded with, as the present was the time to do such work. If the work were left much later it would b& too lata for this season. The surveyors could do all the necessary pegging off over the portion to Houipapa in a fortnight.

The Committee of the Timarti Main School has decided on a scheme of improve--ments for its grounds at an estimated cost of about £300.

The Isipesial Bbass Sprat Pttmp: WitH Stream and Fine Spray Nozzle. — Made I>J American noted manufacturers. Are obtaia* able from Nimmo and Blair, Dunedin. Frui4» growers and Oicharfiistp should uee {test.