HEDDON BUSH

Otago Witness, Issue 2688, 20 September 1905, Page 39

HEDDON BUSH

— Wmton-Xightcaps Railway. — A Jarga and representative meeling of farmeis wa^ held in the Public Hall at Heddon I'iish on the evening of Wednesdaj'', 13th inst., M v G. M. Ha^sing in the chair. 'J'he Giiainnan explained that the object of the meeting was lo urge upon the Government the expediency of coiistiuc*ing a railway from Wmfon tv NJghtcaus, via 'Heddo-j. Burh He pointed out that a stretch of cnuntrv 20 nn'os square, containing an area of 400 =quore miles, or, say, about 250,000 acres, of the best asjnciutuv.il land in the colony -n-ould be sarved by the construction of the proposed line. This meaiit that 1000 seHlers, each occupying :>n area of 250 acrea would bo inmiadiatslv l'enefitp-d by it? construction. That in itse'f shou'd be a siifticipnt induceirenl ai-d gii'iiantee that Uie line, %\hen niado, would be at once lemunerati.'e. Another potent factor in favour n{ itg cOiistiuciio.i is the fact that it leids ivxo a cc?.l region capable of vaat ca" - elopui3ut. for it is a fact thai in a we^teily dnection. f ar beyond KighK-ap's, maguiflceijt sr-anis of cool aie known to exist, r-nd also an abundance of clay suitable for producing potti^iy of every .legvee of quality. Indeed, apart fiom tha vast agricultui^l coiisideration, thc=o f.'ct? should fl-aii'rant any Govrnun^nt in undeitakin^ the work indicated. The demand for coa.l over a vast area could be supplied at considerably Vss co-t than the- price at present mling. Apart fioroi ths various industries cieaterl by ea=y access to a coal fie'd, the line contemplated might reasonably be expected ultimately to be extended io those l>earcrtifrf] {'ouri^t resorts at the head o-f fka Wslan, Lake<j Marjapouri and Te Anan. TJtase objects might nil be achieved by the construction of this 1 ail way. Messrs John Cowie, Win. Watson, P. Ryan. Thos. Powpr, L. Cody, and others present cxpie=scd their views favourably to the prnposeJ lino of railway, all unhesitatingly asserting that it would L-J a paving 'me fiom the moment of completion. Seveial set Hers, vrlio

arc now strongly advocating this line, wer» formerly meaibeis of the Wright's Bush-Had-don Bush Railway Committee , but they now feel convinced, from tne assurance of Ministers and heads of departments, that there is now absolutely n hope of this or any other Government undertaking its construction, running, as it would, parallel and in clofs pioxmiity to two lines already constructed. It is, theiefore, sincerely hopeci "that the rodents: in the Drummond district will nbipc'u"! a hopeless ttrugg.'e and join heard, y m ti c agitation for the construction of the Virio • Nightcaps railway. The South H,''---( 1 .: = trict is with us, and we earnest _« le, t that the Winton peopb wilJ permit no si'fi-!- -ies of present consideration to stand m '!,- -v- y of a movement that will ultimately ra s: '?.-<r town to an importance that only a fc-v arcable to discern at the present time. The following resolution, proposed by Mi John Cowie and seconded by Mi Win. Watsor, was carried unanimously: — "That with a view of urging 1 pon the Government the desirableness of constructing a line of railway from Winton to Nightcaps, via Heddon Bush, a respectful petition be drawn up for presentation to Parliament, and that a copy of thig resolution be forwarded to the- members for Awarua and Wallace." It tvai= decided that the following- gentleni'pn. -with power to add to th&ir rumber, should constitute- the WintonNightcaps Railway League- — Central League. Heddon Bush— Messrs 'G. M. Hassing. ~Wm. Watson, J. B. Forde, Jas. Ryan. John Boyle, jun., J. Catto, A. C. Cochrane, D F. Clark, Cha«. Claik, A. Provau, J. B. Forde. jun., and Jas. Watson. Branch League, Oreti— Messrs John Cowie, P Ryan, Jas. Dona.d, J. Coster, S. Woods. J. Murdock, and J. Findlay. Branch League, Wrey's Bush ' Messrs Thos. Power. Jas. Flynn, M. Egan, and M. Colquhoun. At the request of the meeting, the Chairmanagreed to draw up a petition to be submitted to the next meeting, to be held in the hall on Wednesday evening. 20th inst., at 7.30, when all lists are to be handed in. A heartyvote of thanks to the chair closed the meeting.