CATLINS-TAHAKOPA RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 34

CATLINS-TAHAKOPA RAILWAY LEAGUE.

The regular meeting of the executive of the Catlins-Tahakopa Railway League was held on th© 12th inet. in' the office of Messrs D. M. Fea and Co., and was • attended by Messrs R. Chieholm (chairman), W. F. Edmund, L. R. Wilson, W. Taylor, G. Brown, W. B. M. Fea, D. M. Fea, G. Fenwick, and J. B. Waters (secretary). .The Chairman said he had had an interview with several Ministers and others as to an authorisation bill for the further i prosecution of the line. He had seen vr* ?? ns- T - Mackenzie and Buddo, and Mr Malcolm, who had said that there was no prospect whatever of any authorisation bill being passed this session, the session being so brief, but that there was " ot ,j the slightest doubt that the work j would be gone on with as expeditiously | as possible, just the same as if an authorisa- : tion bill had been passed. It was not ; a question of any difficulty arising, or any ; exception 'being taken, but that the session bfing so brief nothing of the sort could be introduced. The three gentlemen mentioned had assured him that the work would go on just as if an authorisation bill had been put through this year. The point to which it was proposed that the line should be conducted at present had not been definitely fixed. The point Mr Malcolm had been advocating was near Dunlop's. Some thought that was'tco far and that it was not the most suitable place for a terminus in the meantime. However, the work would be prosecuted with as much vigour as if an authorisation had s been made, and he had been informed that he might give the league an assurance Ito that effect. Mr Furkert, of the Public • Works Department, seemed to be anxious to prosecute the work with the men he . had, in a way that would bs in the best interests of the line. Mr D. M. Fea remarked that there were quite a number of persons looking out for sawmillingr areas and they would like to know what prospect there was of getting the line pushed on. The Chairman said Mr Furkerfc had stated semi-officially that they might expect the line to be finished to Stoddart's in about two years. The only thing they might urge was that if there was any material to be got for the bridge across i the M'Lennan River it might be put in hand without delay. Mr Waters stated that Mr Furkert had said the bridge would be constructed of wood. A gentleman from the district had informed him that the rails were practically laid into the Puketiro station yard. j It was resolved that the chairman and secretary wait upon Mr Furkert on behalf of the league with a view, of obtaining information as to the prosecution of the i line ■': ; '•' .'■-'•■ c. *'V '"•'•'.:•■"«'••' .

The' Hon. T. Mackenzie' wrote regretting that he could'-.no*'accept'.the position of-vice-president of the league, -inasmuch as it was contrary to the\ custom of members of the. Cabinet to accept such positions. — Received.

Mr Peter Barr, secretary to the Dunedin Chamber of- Commerce, forwarded a copv of a letter received from the Hxin. J. A Millar, as to railway rates on timber, which read as follows: —

With reference to your letter of 14th July in support' of the . request made by .the Catlins-Tahakopa Railway League for a readjustment of the rates on timber from Catlin's River to stations in Otago and Canterbury, I have the honour to inform you that after giving the representations full consideration I regret that I cannot see my way to accede to the request which, in effect is that the rates from Catlin's River should be fixed on a pro rata basis according to the distance as compared with the rates and distances frotn. sawmills in the Southland district. . The department is unable to ignore the water competition in the Southland district, or to base the rates elsewhere upon the rates chargeable in that district as the result of such competition. : I would point out that timber'from Catlin's River to Caversham, Peliohet Bay, and intermediate stations is already conveyed at rates considerably lower than the ordinary classified rates. In these circumstances and' in view of the reduction recently made in the timber ratos for all distances over 155 miles, I cannot as previously statedl see my way to authorise any further coacessions.—Received.