CATLINS-TAHAKOPA RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 56

CATLINS- TAHAKOPA RAILWAY LEAGUE.

ANNUAL REPORT,

Th 9 following is the annual report of tie Catlins-Tahakopa Railway League for tft© year ended June 30, 1908: —

Progress of Works. — During the past 12 months the sectaon from Catlin's River to Houipapa Siding has been completed. The rate of progress on this particular section has been by no means rapid, continuous delays having -occurred in connection with, the supply of ballast. This difficulty has ryw been overcome by the erection of a. stone-crusher by the Public Work 6 Department on the railway line about a miLe from Houipapa Siding, and the ballasting of the line has now been completed as far as the Houipapa Station yai-d. The -embankments and excavation work fxom Houipapa to Dewar's is now engaging the principal attention of the Public Works Department, while the line of route has been cleared for a considerable distance. between Dewar's and the Table Hill siding. During th. year the league has repeatedly urged an increase in. the number of men employed on the Catlins line, and as a result of the representations made the numbers .jvere during January increased to about 160 to 170 men, and this number has bean pretty well maintained 1 ever since. Up to t.h? beginning of June last the weather was exceptionally favourabl, and very fair progress was made wi*h the excavation work. Your committee, however, understands that the work to be done between Houipapa and Dewar's will be fairly heavy, consisting as it does of a> eeries of cuttihg3 and embankments, and 1 the league will therefore continue to urge upon the Government the absolute necessity for maintaining a stronjj force of men oh this uart of the work.

Authorisation Bill. — The Catlins line hay. ing only been authorised as far as Houipapa, it was found necessary last session to get a further authorisation .to carry the railway as far as Tahakopa, 'and this matter for some time engaged th© attention of the league. In this connection our president (Mr Chisholm) had a special interview with the Prime aVJinister in Wellington, and, wit.h the assistance of the Otago members, satisfactory arrangements were made for the necessary authorisation. The special thanks of the league are due to the president and to the members who assisted him, in this direction.

Railway Vote. — It is with much pleasure that your committee records the fact that-a very saisfaetory amount was placed on the Estimates last session, half the total allocation for Otago railways being -voted for lie construction of the Catlins line. This year, in accordance with the suggestion made to the Government by your committee, it, is confidently hoped that the same equally iust treatment! will be accorded to the Catlins line during the present session. In view of the nature of the country through which the line is now being constructed, the amount voted towards the Catlins line must be fairly heavy, otherwise adequate progress cannot be made, and your committee has therefore already begun urging upon the Otago members the absolute necessity for securing from the Government a vote sufficiently ample to ensure the construction of the line as far as Table Hill. Visit of the League to the Catlins District. — During Maroh last a deputation from the league, accompanied by Mr Malcolm, member for Clu-tha, and Mr Thomas Mackenzie, M.P., visited the Catiins district with a -view to ascertaining tlie exact state of the works and the requirements and possibiliti«s of the country through which the line will pass. The deputation was most cordially received and entertained by tba pebtlers in the various districts and visited in turn Ratanui, Houipapa, Kahuika. and Tahakopa Valley. The members of the deputation returned to Dunedin more highly impressed than ever with the possibilities of the district and the urgent necessity for a, speedy prosecution of the railway. Winter Show Exhibit.— ln order to afford an object leeeon^to t.he public of Otago of the capabilities of the Ca/tlina district, ifc was decided by your committee that space for a Catlins bay should be secured at the winter show of the Otago A. and P. Society. A special committee was set up. and with the- very hearty co-operation of the settlers in the various districts concerned a very creditable ex.hibif was got together at very short notice. The success of this project entirely iustified the oulay incurred, and 1 the capabilities of the district were most effectively brought before the puhlje, and attracted a very considerable amount of attention. Your committee feels that this venture is one which must meet with the hearty approval of every member of the league, and it trusts that at next winter show a similar display will be made. Finance. — Statement of revenue and expenditure duly audited is attached to t.hi« report, showing a oredit balance of £40 2s 9d. The total membership of the league at present is about 60, but your committee trusts that this number will be still further increased during the next 12 months. In conclusion, it only remains for your committee to r<ecord the fact, that committee meetings were well attended throughout the year, and thai the public was kept thoroughly informed as to the progress of the line and the needs of the Catlins district by means of newspaper reports and notices, and for the assistance afforded in this direction tb© eoTdial thankts of tbe league are due to the Dunedin and Clutha papers.

On Tuhara Station, Hawke's Bay, a. record crop of maize has just been threshed, six acres producing at the rate of 77£ bushels per acre.

At the Magistrate's Court at Timaru a few days ago a woman was lined £51 and costs for -cruelly ill-treating a cat by allowing her dog to worry it to i!esith.

The Nile is noted for tbe va.-icty of its fish An expedition cent l»y the British Museum brought home 9000 spotto men*.