CATLINS-TAHAKOPA RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2978, 12 April 1911, Page 8

CATLINS-TAHAKOPA RAILWAY LEAGUE.

The regular meeting of the executive of "the Catlins-Tahakopa Bailway "League was I held on Thursday, .and was attended I by Messrs B. Chisholm (chairman), D. M. | Fea, W. B. M. Fea, C. P. M. Butterworth, j G. Fenwick, M. Cohen, L. B. Wilson, W. I F. Edmond, G. Brown, and J. B. Waters (secretary). The following report from Mr James Christie, dated at Table Hill, March 9, was read: —"I have the honour to report that I visited the railway works yesterday, and found as» follows: —The cutting at 30 peg is almost cut out, also the filling at railheads is nearly completed. The big cutting at 30-26 is still being worked with shifts, and excellent progress is being made from near this point. The bulk of the heavy work is completed to Puketiro Station 'lhe works camp was shifted to Puketiro a few weeks ago. Good progress is being made with the stom© culvert at Avery's Creek and at Matai Creek. Preparations are being made to place a large number of workers. The culvert furthest along the line being worked is at 33-64. The tramway is finished to 34-10, and the tram formation is finished to the 35-43. The cutting furthest along the line is being worked at 34-34. Burning-off is completed to ihe 35-37 peg, and a number of bush gangs are burning-off ahead, of this point, so that before winter the work of burning-off should be completed to Mr M'lntyre's. The weather has been very favourable for the work, and progress has been excellent. I find about 330 men on the works." Members of the league regarded the report as very good, the Chairman remarking that it was about the most satisfactory they had had for some time.—lt was reaolved to thank Mr Christie for it. The Secretary said that, with regard to the settlers in block XIV, he would read the following letter from the secretary of the Oaberf eidh Settlers' Association :—''' I am instructed to write informing you that a well-attended meeting of settlers was held here in the schoolhouse on March 25, when it was decided to form a settlers' association. Several important matters were discussed, including that of a road being formed into block XIV to enable the new settlers to get on to their holdings, and we ask if you will use your influence in furthering their interests in re getting a start made with a road into the block. For your benefit I will detail a few of the grievances and hardships these new settlers have had to put up with. It is now 12 months since these sections were taken up, and Mr Widdowson (public works engineer) was over the road chaining it off, but nothing more has been done, with the exception of about 10 chains of bush being felled, which might as well be standing, for it is still iying j where felled, and only makes it harder to I scramble over. As you are aware, these settlers are camped in and around the district. Some are camped on the school reserve, and have built temporary places to live in, being encouraged to believe that the money recommended by Land Board would be spent, thus enabling them to build more comfortable places on their sections, and to get a few acres of grass in so as to be ready to supply a little milk should any factory start when the railway is here; but as jet there is no sign of anything being done, and the settlers are now put to the second expense of building new camps to see the winter through. To make matters worse, mostly all have struggled to get a few acres cleared and sown in grass and turnius, which are coming on splendidly; but it is impossible to get any fencing done or cattle to graze or timber to build. Adding to this, the settlers are paying rent and rates for land that is absolutely useless to them in their present position. The association solicits your support in helping them to get their rights, and to encourage them in retaining their holdings." The Secretary said there were 14 or 15 of these men. The Chairman expressed the opinion that they might write again to Mr A. S. Malcolm, MP., requesting him to look further into the matter. He did not think this particular district should be satisfied with the answer from the Minister that nothing had been done. He hardly saw how the league would be justified in approaching the Minister in the matter of roading. Mr Cohen said he thought the league would be failing in its duty if it did not back up these men. It seemed to him that the title "Railway League" could surely be brought to cover a matter of this kind. These persons had gone there under a promise, at least inferentially, that facilities would be given them to put their land under cultivation. He thought they should not only support Mr Malcolm in what he had done, but should bring the Minister to book. He thought they should back these settlers up as far as ever they could in their efforts to get what they wanted. The Chairman said he had quite as much sympathy with the settlers as Mr Cohen, but if the leaguo was to see that roads were made throughout the district to feed the line it was beyond any conception he had of the league's functions. He> quite agreed that the league should do everything it

could, but 'he thought it was beyond fcho scop© of the league to approach the Minister on the question of making roads in the district; at least until they had a different constitution. He would, however, be very pleased to accept a resolution if the leaigue desired it. The secretary said block XIV was an imEortant block in the district, and had itherto been unoccupied. The opening of this block would practically complete settlement in that district. The men and their wives were in tents, and to all intents and purposes could not get on to their ground. The end would be tnat they would get disgusted and leave the land. Four hundred pounds was wanted for felling a track through the bush, so that they could take a pack-horse through to their land, and so that their children could get to school. The Chairman asked how it would do if a deputation from the league waited upon the city members with a view to those gentlemen using their influence in the matter Mr Fenwick said that to urge upon city members and any other members representing the southern, part of Otago, at anyrate, the necessity of the case would be the best course to adopt. Members could not fail to take the matter up, and their united weight would help a great deal. After some further discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Fenwick, seconded by Mr Fea., that a special meeting of the league be called, and that Mr A. S. Malcolm, MAP., and members of Parliament representing Otago constituencies be invited to be present.