OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 69

OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE.

PROTEST AT DELAY.

A meeting of the Otago Central Railway League, held on Monday evening, was attended by Messrs W. Burnett (in ihe chair), B. Rober-ls, L. Gards, G. Fenwick, W. Barron, W. Ginsberg, J. Jolly, jun., A. R. Barclay, A. Bathgate, and H. I). Bedford, M.H.R. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs W. E. Reynolds, T. K. Sidey, M.H.R. , R. Chisholm, R. M. Clark, and E. D'Esterre.

The Secretary read telegrams forwarded to the Minister of Public Works and to the City members by the league re the erection of a bridge over the Manuherikia at Alexandra, and the replies to the same as already published. The Chairman explained the position of the work at the present time, and stated that any delay over this bridge was very serious.

Mr Barron said lie had been going over a number of documents and reports in connection with the construction of the line, from which he had gathered some information that should interest members. On July 23, 1900, Mr Barclay, M.H.R., wrote : " The Minister of Public Works to-day informed me that the plans of the Manuherikia bridge were complete-., and the contract would be let very shortly. He also said he was determined to- push the railway on — to Clyde, if possible — as fast as he could. The Minister is quite satisfied that trade is waiting for the Otago Central." Subsequently, in September, 1900, the same honourable member wrote that he had the assurance of the Minister (the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones) that the railway would be open and running to Alexandra in two and a-half years (from September, 1900).

On September 4-, 1900, Mr Arnold, telegraphed that he was informed by the Minister of Public Works that there were four tunnels to make and two bridges to build, but that rails could be laid through to Alexandra and the line opened in about two years and. a-half. Mr Arnold attended a meeting in December, 1900, and informed them that tho vote for the line had been increased, and he felt positive the whole of it would be expended. The vote was £100,000, but only £61,3+7 was*spent. On March 19, 1901, Mr Barclay wrote that lie had been with the Minister of Public Works, and found matters were proceeding satisfactorily, and he would not, be surprised if the line to Alexandra were opened in 18 or 20 months. Mr Arnold at the same meeting said he believed it would take about two years if justice were done. On June 4, 1901, the Minister of Public Works in a tele&ram to Mr Arnold said : — " I have no reason to_,doubt that the line will be through to Alexandra in time stated." Mr Barron then quoted the official Public Works Statement of votes and expenditure on the line from 1900 to the present year, and ooncluded by quoting newspaper recorded utterances of the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones atStratford on December 13 last, where he was reported as stating '' that all' votes were going to be authorised, and that there had never been so much money available foa* work in the summer time as at present" ; and also the reported utterance of the Premier at Christohuroh on December 18, as follows: — "He thought the people of We&tland and Canterbury had let interest in the railway flag, and did cot urge the Government enough to push on the work. They should not ba satisfied without at least £150,000 a year, and should insist on completion at least to the Cass." He would move — '"That we, the undersigned, learn with surprise and regret that, notwithstanding repeated promises — notably, that of the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones, Minister of Public Works, that the Otago Central railway w ould bo open and running to Alexandra in March, 1903, — nothing' has yet been done towards the construction of the bridge required to connect the line with Alexandra, although Parliament has during the past and previous sessions voted ample funds foa* the purpose ; and call upon the Government to immediately take such action as will result in the opening of the railway to that point without further delay."

Mr E. Roberts seconded the motion, and in the course of a vigorous and impressive speech, said that during a business tour of the West Coast he had taken pai--ticular notice of the energy with which railway construction was puehed on on the Midland line, and he mentioned the fact that at one section of the line he found no less than three ballast engines at work, all busily engaged, with a large number of men actively working on the line, and the whole of the work betokening an energy that was refreshing to see. On coming back to Dunedin, and in the course of a tour through Central Otago, he was very much struck with the entixebr cL^erent

meihoa of procedure on the railway works here. It was astonishing to him that there is'houki o» such an utter supineue»s on the part o. the neople of Dunedin, who wer° deeply interested" in the construction of th line — a supineness that continued to the present day, even after the eyes of the public had been opened to the immense resources of Central Otago. He could not conceive what had come over the community, knowing, as it mu=t do, that this line was of the most vital importance io the welfare ot Dunedin and the province as a whole. It said very little, indeed, for the energy af Dunedin that there should be such apathy about the neglect of the great interior, which was the country upon which the basis of the • commercial prosperity of Dunedin must rest in the future.

Mr Bathgate said he thoroughly endorsed what Mr Robert? had said as to the extreme apathy of merchants and others in the community. It was a poor compliment, he said, to the members of the league who had ■energetically done their best through a long course of years to impress on the Government the necessity of completing the line at an early date to find that thoir efforts mot with" so little support at the hands of the business community. So far as he was peisonally concerned, he thought the matter had reached a stage when it was time that the Otago Central Railway League should consider its portion, and he intended at the next meeting of the league io bring the matter up in order that some decision might be come to as to whether it was -north while to continue their efforts any loneer. The Secretary mentioned that jast week" was a record week for quantity of outward freight on the railways from Dunedin since they were opened. No doubt a proportionate share of the increase was due to the freight on the Otago Central line.

Mr A. R. Barclay spoke with regard to the vast importance of the work, and stated that he hoped, though in the past the league had had but little encouragement from the people of Dunedin in this work, they would not lose heart, but still try to rouse enthusiasm in such an important mattei-. He said there were a great number of people who had never visited Otago Central, and consequently did not know anything about) the country, and in many cases thought the line was of no avail; but to anyone who had been up the Otago Central it must be apparent what great use the line would be in the future. He strongly counselled the league to continue its efforts, as it was only by the steady continuance of the work they had been engaged on that due recognition of what was -due to the line would be arrived at.

The motion was carried unanimously, and it was resolved that it be forwarded to the Government, with the signatures of the. suburbaii Mayors, chairmen of the Otago Harbour Board, Chamber" of Commerce, and Trades and Labour Council, of the members representing city and suburbs, and of the executive of the league attached. The Secretary read copies of resolutions passed at the last meeting of the Alexandra branch of the league, as they appear in the report subjoined.