OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 38

OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE.

AN INTERESTING MEETING.

A meeting of the Otago Central Railway League Executive Committee was held on Monday evening, »vhen there were- present — M-etsrs W. Burnelt (chairman). J. F. Arnold, M.H.R., T. K. Sidey, M.H.R., R. Gilkiscn, E. Roberts, W. Ginsberg, G. Howden, W. Tonkin, E. D'Esteire, L. Gards, and J. Jolly, ju'i. Apologies for absence wfere received from Messrs W. B. Reynolds, G. Fonwick, and the Mayor.

The Secretary of the Alexandra branch of the league forwarded a resolution passed by the branch requesting the Minister of Publio Works not to erect permanent station buildings at Chatto Creek, but to allocate the amount for the buildings to the prosecution of the line. The letter also stated that the secretary was informed on reliable authority that all the single men were to be paid off the works on February 2A. This letter and the resolution have already been published. A letter, to which reference has already been made in this journal, was received from Mr W. Barron tendering his resignation.

Mr A. Bathgate wrote as follows : —

I have your letter of Bth inst., conveying to me the unanimous desire of the committee of the league that I should withdraw my resignation. While thanking the committee for this indication of its appreciation of any little assistance I may have been enabled to render in the past, 'I am sorry that at the present juncture I do not see my way to adopt the course suggested. Had I felt any hesitation it would have been removed by the resuscitation of the silly and groundless accusation that the league is a political body.

The Under-seeretary to the Public Works Department wrote as follows under date February 13 : —

Otago Central Railway. — Re Bridge ever Manuherikia. River at Alexandra. — Sir, — Your letter of sth tilt., adatressed to Eight Hon. the Premier, covering petition from various Dunedin citizens holding official jeositions, with reference to the construction of the above, was referred to this department to hz de^lt with, but was unfortunately inadvertently filed away in the Premier's office for seveial days, and oiily readied Hon. Mr Hall-Jones's hands on the 11th inst. ; hence the d«!ay in answering it. In reply I have the honour, by direction of the Minister of Public Works, to state that the department is well aware of what is necessary in connection with this matter. There are. however, several miles of formation, some of -which is of a- fairly heavy nature, to be taken in hand before the bridge referred to is required, an<3 the work is being arranged accordingly. Tenders will bs invited for the bridge in dtie course.

The Chairman said he was sure they were all very sorry to, hear of Mr Barron's resignation and that ,Mr Bathgate would not reconsider his decision. They had both been very strong men in the league, and he did not know how the committee would get on very well without them. Long ago he (the speaker) had been very much struck with Mr Barron's whole heartedncss and the thorough manner in which he took up tho objects of the league. Mr Barron was one. of those few men who^'aw what the community was now seeing clearly — that in order to keep the trade which properly belonged to this city it was necessary to enter upon a long and stern fight against an organised attempt to take Otago trade to a southern port. He (the- chairman) had made a few extracts froni the league's records which would show ample justification for Mr Barron's resignation. They were as follow : —

February 10, 1905. — Telegram from Hqn. Mr Hall- Jones to Mr Sidey : " The plan of bridge over the Manuherikia near Alexandra is now being prepared. So soon as completed tenders will be invited." In July, 1&00, four and a-half years ago, Mr Hall-Jones informed Mr Barclay that '" the plans for the Manuherikia bridges were complete," and that " the contracts would be let shortly." In September of same year the same honourable (and truthful) gentleman gave Mr Barclay and others his assurance that the railway would be open and running to Alexandra in two and a-ha!f years from then. This does not tally "with, his telegram to Mr Sidey.

July 25, 1900.— Mr Barclay, M.H.R., wrote: '" The Minister of Public Works to-day infoimed me that the plans of the Manuherikia bridges were complete, and She contract wouldbe let very shortly. H& 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 tracts is waiting for the Otago Central."

September. 1900. — Mr Barclay, M.H.K., wrote that he had the assurance of the Minister (Hon. Mr Hall-Jones) that the railway would be open and running to Alexandra in two and a-half years (i.e., in March, 1903).

August. 1900. — Letters were received from Messrs Millar, Fraser, and Barclay, M.H.R's., notifying that the Otago members were to meet to discuss the advisability of getting bridges over the Manuherikia pushed on witH all possible speed.

September 4, 1900. — Messrs Millar and Arnold wrote, in reply to league's inquiry as to result of such meeting, that no meeting had been he'd, as the necessity ceased to exist when the Otago members learnt that the work was in hand. It was then rsolvedt to ask members to ascertain about what date the railway would be open to Alexandra. MiArnold replied by telegram : — " September 4, 1900.— 1 have seen Minister of Public Works, who informs me that there are four tunnels to make and two brdges to build, bxit that rails can be laid through, to Alexandra and the line opened in about two and a-iialf years." Continuing, th-e Chairman said no le?< a sum than £198,000 had been unexpended of the authoiised votes in 14- years. Money was voted by the representatives of the people, and he took it that when money wai voted for certain work it should be expended, and when they found that £19-B, OCO had been deducted from a work that was necessary for the well-being of this province he thought Mr Barron was justified in resigning. — ("Hear, hear.'")

Mr Jolly said Air Bari'on had always been one of the most active and zealous members of the committee, had attended meetings in all weather?, and had devoted a large amount of his time to this important public service. With regard to lapsed vOvP^. he found that the total amount was £690,000. and £483,662 had been expended (that included the £70.000 voted last yeai), and if £48,000 was expended this year the total lapsfd vote would be £207,662. lie (Mr Jolly) referred to the remarks of tlir Hon. Mr Hall-Jone? at. Edievale, and said it would not be dignified on the part of the cominitte to take notice- of them;

but he could not help thinking the Minister was toying with h:s position when he made the remarks he did about the league. He regretted that the members cf Parliament vi ho wore present did not toko the opportunity to challenge thoso remarks, which were certainly uncalled for, and were, m a certain degree, insulting to the con-sfcitue-nts of some of tho c e members. He moved that the chairman and Mr Tonkin wait on Mr Barron and request him to reoonsidei* his decision.

The motion was seconded by Mr Cards, and carried unanimously.

Mr Gilkison moved — That this Executive Committee accepts, with great regret, the resignation of Mr Bathgat«, anci in doing so dosires to plac-a on record its appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the le>a.gue by Mr Bathgat© nt the past." He (Mr Gilkison) was satisfies, that Mr Bathgate and Mr Borron had been the whole life and soul of the executive. It svas through the. efforts of the league that the powers behind the throne had been induced to carry the line to Oniakau ; if it had not been for the league it would never have been hnlf way. He gave every credit; to the city roennbsrs :mJ Mr Sidey, who had strenuously supported the railway. He would like to see boniothin^ in the shape of an amalgamation of the leagues. There were now three leagues — the Otago Central, Law-rence-Roxburgh, and CatHns River Leagues, — all requiring assistance, and there was no reason why the three shor-ld not be combined a.nd speak with one united voice, through the Otag© members in Parliament. A proposal had been made to form an Ofcago League ; that might fulfil the functions of the three leagues, but its formation should have beeu hurried up. He was satisfied the Otago Central League had been working on right lines in the- past.

At the suggestion of Mr D'Esterre it was agreed to add to the motion a clause expressing the hope that Mr Bathgafce- would seehis way to consent to nomination again at th& next annual meeting. Mr E. Roberts seconded the motion, and in doing &o Paid it had been his ide-a for some time that there should be m amalgamation of the throe leagues, and more pressure might be brought to bear on the Ministry by such a course. With reference to the telegram received by Mr Sidsy from the Minister of Public Works and published, it struck him (Mr Roberts) that there had been some great want of management somewhere in ihe plans for the Manuherikia bridge not having been prepared years ago. It co aid only be a short bridge, and there must be plans enough in tho Publio Works Office to provide for the girders.^ Bridges of every size had been erected on the Otago Central, and it was no groat work for the draughtsman in the Public Works Office to puß together a few plans. If the plans .were only now being prepared the linewould not reach Alexandra for three years. The bridge was presumably to be a steel or iron one. In the first place, there would be two or three months finishing off the plans, then calling for tenders would take two or three months more, and, according to former precedents the contractors would send in their prices, accompanied •by bigdeposit- cheques, which would be retained in the office for six months, or three or four months at anyrate, then a tender would be- accepted, then the iron would bo sent for from Home; it would have to undergo certain test*, and if would reach this colony in about 12 months more, and then 12 months more would be occupied in the erection. With regard to the Manorburn pile bridge, it could be erected as speedily, if not more so, as an embankment. It had bee-n said that the line had been carried on faster by the present Minister of Public Works than by any former Minister, hut he questioned that. The- Taieri Gorge — a work of ve-ry great magnitude, where- there were bridges- almost every mile and a-half, auy number of tunnels, the biggest viaduct in New Zealand prier to the erection of the Makohine viaduct — had been pierced and the line carried to Middlemaveh —between 40 and 50 mik>5 — prior to the Hall-Jones Administration. Beyond Mickllemarch, with the exception of a bit of cutting at the Capbum aud some heavy work at Poolburn, the line had been of the easiest formation, and the rate of progress from Midcllemaroh on hacl not be-en so great, compared with the progress up to Midcllomarch, when the nature of the work was taken into account. If all the money stated had been oxpend&d, then it had not been well s<pent. and the best r&sults had not been obtained.

The motion was carriecS unanimously. ,l, l Mr D'Esterre then moved — " That a commSttee* consisting of the chairman, Mr Gilkisoa. and the mover be appointed to confer with representatives cf ihe LawrenceRoxburgh Railway League and the Catlins River Railway League with a view to more combined action in seeking to obtain a mere " vigorous proseoution of the Ocago railways, and, report at a future meeting." The mover referred to the urgent necessity tbere- • was for railway eommuni«irk>n between Lawrence and Roxburgh, to tha interior country beyond the present terminus of the Otago Central, and to the Catlins forests. The motion was seconded by Mr Ginsberg and carried.

It was decided not to take any action with reference to the resolution sent forward by the Alexandra branch, the opinion of members being that the league was only concerned with the progress of the line itself. Mr T. K. Sidey, M.H.R., said he had not been at the Edievale function, so did noc hear Mr Hall-Jones's remarks. Hs (Mr Sidey) did not propose to justify the placingof votes on tho Estimates and then nob expending them. He did not think that was a proper thing to do. — (" Hear, hear.") Ac the- same time, he thought it would be admitted that the amount actually spent had been greater during the past few years. So far as Mr B&fchgate was concerned, ho Qlr Sidey) thought Mr Bathgate was mistaken in thinking that the general public did not appreciate the work of the league. The lack of interest might arise from the fact that tho public knew that its interests wero well served by the- men controlling the league. He thought Mr Barron had been over-sensitive to criticism ; an old parliamentarian like Mr Barron should be more reasoned. He (Mr Sidey) thought the veracity of the Minister should r.ot be called in question because he had failed to give effect to a promise made some years ago. There might be honest intpntion afc tho time, but inability to fulfil it- For one thing, the Government could not foresee the state- of tho moi.ey market.

Mr Burnett : If Mr Hall-Jove» were a strong man lie would ->ay to Mr Seddon : "I have made that promise and I am goingto cai-rv v out." The late Su- Jehu M'Kenzie would ha\e taken (hat sort of stand. After some fornidl discussion tho meet ins concluded.