CATLINS-TAHAKOPA RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 5

CATLINS-TAHAKOPA RAILWAY LEAGUE.

ANNUAL MEETING. OPTIMISTIC FORECASTS. Tho annual meeting of the Catlins-Taha-kopa Railway League was held in tho Chamber of Commerce rooms on the 21st inst. Mr M. Cohen (vice-president) occupied tho chair in the absence of the president (Mr R. Chisholm). The balance-sheet presented by tho hon. treasurer, Mr J. B. Waters, showed receipts amounting to £26 ss, an expenditure of £24 Is, and a credit balance of £7l 16s. The following are the principal clauses in the annual renort of tho executive:

“Your executive has much pleasure in reporting a year of steady progress. At this time last year the rails were laid as far as Pukotiro, and the heaviest piece of work on the line had still to be encountered. The various engineering difficulties between Pukctiro and the M'Lennan River have been successfully overcome, and the rails are now laid up to the bank of the M'Lennan. A contract has been let for the bridge, and this will shortly be completed. At present the contractor is delayed in this work owing to the non-arrival of some material. Beyond tho M'Lennan River tho Papatowai station yard is being prepared, and clearing, ditching, and earthworks are being carried on towards Stoddart’s. The latest report states that the foremost gangs have reached a point about 20 chains from the terminus at Stoddart’s. During the year a great deal of work has been done on the station yards at Puketiro and Caberfeidh, and notwithstanding the fact that a good deal of time has been lost occasionally in dealing with heavy slips during the rainy season, tho executive is satisfied that very satisfactory progress has been made. It is confidently expected that the line should bo available for public traffic up to Papatowai Station before tho end of 1913, and that in a very few months later tho rails should bo laid right through to Stoddart’s.

“ Country Correspondents.—ln November, Mr .Tames Christie resigned owing to the work having gone past his district. Ho was succeeded by Mr David Neil, but this gentleman resigned- shortly afterwards, and was succeeded by Mr David Bond, who now acts as correspondent for Ta'hakopa. The executive records its indebtedness to these gentlemen for their reports. “ Accounts. —Tlie balance-sheet shows a credit up to date of £7l 16s. ‘‘ In conclusion, the executive feels that it is nearing the end of its labours, but would remind members that, before the rads actually reach Stoddarfs. there is etill a good deal of work to be done, and that it is therefore extremely desirable that, although the end is in sight, members of the league should not abate their interest in the work until the task which has boon steadily kept before them during the last 12 years lias been satisfactorily accomplished.” * In moving the adoption of the annual report summarised above ilie Chairman congratulated the league on the imminent completion of their, labours. As far as ho could learn the work was in such a state of forwardness that it was a fair assumption that the Papatowai section would bo ready for handing over to the Railway Dejiartrnent at the New Year, or shortly thereafter. But there was in tiiis relation the consideration whether they ougiit as a league to lend themselves to forcing the hand of the Government to take over this section on completion. There were many stixmg reasons why all the construction, works should bo pushed on without delay, and that the who.o lino could bo rendered useful to the pet-pie of the district at the earliest possible opportunity. 'i ho rails wore now laid to the river bank, and the contractor for the bridge over the M’Lennan River had his timber on the ground and his ironwork well forward, so that there was every prospect, with a continuation of lino weather, of the bridge being built before the end of December. On the other side of the river two miles of the earthwork was formed in readiness for the sleepers and rails, and as the remaining three and a-half miles presented no engineering difficulties there was nothing to prevent the iron horse from making its appearance at Stoddart’s early in the corning year—at Easter at the very latest. That was a consummation devoutly to bo wished, and it might bo realised if the Government abandoned “ ca’-canny ” methods and pushed on the completion of the line. No interest in the district would bo prejudicially affected by the adoption of the course ho was now suggesting. As a league they wore determined to have the terminus at Stoddarfs in accord with repeated promises, and it would best facilitate that result by the Public Works Department retaining control until the lino was completed to that point. The ballasting of the Stoddarfs section would bo retarded and the Works Department hindered in many ways if the Papatowai section were immediately opened. The economical side must be studied, and it was beyond question that obtaining ballast from Houipapa was the right thing. The sawmills were not sufficiently advanced to take advantage of the Papatowai section, and under existing conditions the millers had all their supplies railed to a market on favourable terms. He had reason for believing that the department would, at an

early date, propose to bridge, at a cost of £2OOO, the river at Scott’s. That was a necessary work, in order to allow the settlers on the other side of the Tahakopa to bring in their supplies to the railway, and he favoured making application, to the Minister to include in the vote he was asking for during the current year a sum sufficient to defray tho cost of this necessary adjunct to the railway. The league’s finance was easy, and with Mr Brown’s assistance they would for the last time in, all probability ask the friends and supporters of the line to provide tho executive with the wherewithal to “ force the pace,” if such an extreme step were required. He was hopeful that nothing of the kind would have to be done. But the league was determined that its objective should bo gained during tho present year, and he claimed to voice tho views of the kagug, when he said that tho Catlins lino must be got out of the way —it had dragged itself along with almost painful slowness at times —so that the pressing claims by other Otago lines, by which tho material nappinesa of tho folk in the interior would be greatly promoted, should receive that measure of fair treatment to which they were entitled. He referred, of course, to the extension of the line from Beaumont to Millers Flat, and to tho continuation of the Otago Central to Cromwell He had pleasure in moving .the adoption of the reijwrt and balance-sheet. Mr C. W. Rattray expressed his pleasure in seconding tho motion, and ho concurred most sincerely in tho chairman’s remarks as to tho possibility of the league showing some fruition at an early date—probab.y about next Easter. In view of the fact that it was scarcely required of them now to make any strong representations to the Government, it was a little difficult to have anything to say. Now that the railway had gone so far, and the prospects were that it would at least bo continued with reasonable speed, they felt they could do no more than simply keep in touch with the work that was being done; and if, as the chairman suggested, it might ultimately be necessary to bring pressure, then they would still bo at hand to do so.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr R. Chisholm; vice-presidents, Messrs M. Cohen and G. Fenwick; committee —Messrs W. Taylor, W. B. M. Fea, D. M. Fca, L. Wilson, C. W. Rattray, C. P. Butterworth, W. F. Edmond, L. Harris; secretary, Mr J. B. Waters; hon. auditors, Messrs W. Brown and Co.

The secretary read a report from Mr David Bond, the league’s correspondent at Papatowai, dated July 27. Mr Bond stated that he had found the rails laid down to tho M'Lennan River, materia! being brought down for the bridge, and that piledriving would commence that week. Rushfciliiig was finished to peg 40-40. ditching from peg 40-41 to 41-7, and formation finished from peg 40-63 to 41-6. It was half a mile from there to Stoddart’s coiner. The number of men on the formation was 53, or 65 including platelayers and bridge hands. Most of the gangs were working short-handed, and more men were urgently wanted on the works. The Chairman remarked that it was only fair to the department to say that it could not use more men under the present conditions.

In reply to communications regarding station buildings and loading hanks on the Gatlins, the Minister of Public Works wrote to Mr A. S. Malcolm, pointing out that the decision in such matters rested with the Railway Department, the Public Works Department merely providing such buildings and traffic facilities ns the Railway Department considered necessary. Ho had already been advised that the Railway Department had decided that the station was to be erected at Papatowai.

The Minister of Railways wrote, with reference to the league’s request for a fitationmaster either at Owaka or Houipapa. that the present arrangements were sufficient for the department’s requirements. When, however, the extension to Papatowai was handed over to the department, the question of placing a stationmaster at that station would receive consideration. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded the league’s country correspondents, especially Messrs Christie and Bond, to Mr Malcolm, M.P., for his services, and to the press. '