LIGHT RAILWAYS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7951, 2 July 1897, Page 2

LIGHT RAILWAYS.

ADDRESS BY THE HON. J. CARROLL. THE STOCK TRACK. A meeting of the General Committee of the Railway League was held at the County Council Chamber yesterday afternoon, when there wero present: Messrs J. Maefarlane (Chairman), Hon. J. Carroll, J. Townley (Mayor), Bright, Shelton, Matthews, Rees, Crawford, Tiffen, Whinray, Kennedy, and Capt. Tucker. Mr Rees said the public would bo glad to hear from Mr Carroll some idea of the consideration this mutter of light railways was held in, and what probability there was of it being put. forward. The Hon. Mr Carroll said he thought the League could be complimented, so far as he could guage the feeling outside, on the activity they had shown in endeavoring to bring this question into the forefront of consideration, and in getting public recognition drawn towards it. Of course they knew the reason that compelled him to make the suggestion was, that ho belonged to the East Coast like themselves, and he tooE upon himself to consider whether they should not make some effort to free themselves from the isolation, which had been a terrible handicap to them for years, (Hear, hear). So far atffe the Government was concerned — he was I his own mind that light railways would exisD speaking for himself— he was perfectly clear in in the very near future. Mr Seddon himself had had personal observation and experience on what, they are on the other fide, and Mr Seddon's account to him of what he saw and the deductions he drew therefrom satisfied him (Mr Carroll) in regard to them. He had fully made up his mind to play the question for what it was worth — he did nob mean " play " in a political senas, but to work it up to a practical stage, and if the country were satisfied that the adoption of a light railway system in certain localities throughout the country where such railways were needed would be advantageous, the Government, he thought, would be quite prepared to agree. They would remember that in the Public Works Statement last year mention was made of the possibilities of light railways. Following upon that came the personal inspection of the Tasmanian line by Mr Seddon, and his making himself thoroughly familiar with all details in connection therewith. He inspected the vouchers aod went through the department, and was perfectly satisfied that if it was feasible there it was feasible here, and he said to him (Mr Carroll) that the country that line went through was far rougher than anything they had in New Zealand, with very few exceptions. The cost of that line was put down at £1725 per mile. He did not think they in New Zealand could construct any cheaper than that, but if they did it at £2000 a mile it would be within a fair compass. They had gofi further information from Tasmania since then, and he found there were certain things which conduced to cheapness there. They had a number of rails given them and things of that sort, so that it would be a fair estimate to calculate the cost at £2000 a mile— possibly a little over. He had had several conversations with the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones), who was coming up here shortly, and would, of course, be interviewed by the League. He was inclined very strongly to light railways, but he moved along cautiously. He wanted to get every possible information before he made any distinct pronouncement, but so far as he had gone he was in favor of light railways. Then they were in this position ns a Government : They were dependent on the public will. If the public were in favor of light railways, they would express themselves through their representatives, who would force the matter on the Government. The Government would take id up and bring it before Parliament, who would deal with it in the usual way. In these days no Government could come down to the House and says they wanted to go in for a loan. If the "feeling of the country was in favor of a loan for this specific purpose the Government would be only too ready to carry the matter on, To get tho public into the necessary line for that purpose the League was doing the necessary work. They had initiated the proceedings ; they were the first to start courting and wooing the public mind, so that it might give its attention to the desirability of light railways for certain parts of the country. The idea wan catching on in different localities throughout the colony. He had not heard anywhere an expression unfavorable to or against tho scheme — in fact ie waß all the other way. Although other people might not individually assist the League here to get a line from Rotorua and Gisborne — they said they had as much as they could do to attend to their own little matters — still, if they were all travelling in that direction that in itself waa an embodiment of the power they required to force the thing on. What he thought would be done would be this. It the Government; were satisfied the public was in favor of a scheme of light railways the various Hoes would be scheduled . Supposing the House agreed to borrow money for the purpose they would require a schedule of the lines necessary to be made. He thought the Gisborne line would be in the No. 1 list — they had every cause to be considered first, but they would have to be grouped along with what waa called " the roadless North." Then a connecting line from the point of divergence of tho main trunk line to Stratford woula po"nibiy be agitated for, or to connect the gap bctwoeu the terminating points of the main trunk line. Then in the South Island there would be a chance of starting the Hoe from Christohuroh to Blenheim, which was in the original scheme of Sir Juliuß Yogel, and part of thab line would be to the Hamner Springs. Then they came to the Midland railway, which was going to cost a tremendous lot of money to complete. Things were not) altogether la . a very satisfactory state in regard to that railway, as they knew, but they trustod matters would besettled this record year. Bub he fancied the solution of the difficulty would be a light railway to connect from the west to the east side, un&il 'such time as circumstances would permite of the broadening of the gauge. Briefly, oiab was his estimate of whan w.ia likely to o^ our if the public would say they would go in for a scheme of light) railways. There w,as a little difficulty, as they were aware, v little local agitation so fir as Wairc-a wi» concerned. Wairoa thought the Gisboriu; League was going to excommunicate them altogßther and that ib wastreatingthem unfairly. He had a telegram yesterday asking, in regard to the statement that a surveyor vt'as to bo sent out to explore a route from Gistyon-<* i c Rotorua, if he had left Wairoa out ioi ..<e scheme. Of course, he wired back toj say that the Government; had instructed the surveyor to explore the best possible routo between the East CoasC and Rolorua, so as to bring about connection, irrespective oKlocal consideratiens, and it was tho surveyor's j business to see which was the best routej Wniroa, or any of those places representing branch lines, should not, he tbjought, take the action they are taking. sChey should join in the general scheme, and decide first the essentials, especially the communication with an outside/ market. (Hear, hear). He did nob thirdk they should consider branch line com. ections before tho main question, which, r e held, was the establishment of commumication with the outside world by the best possible route. They could always help branch lines and codnect,-\ ing lines Rccordiuglto their circumstancesaftar- I wards, but it was • just as much to their (Wairoa's) interest as to\ the interest of this League to see the main Question attended to and accomplished. We himself was very hopeful they would got Might railways. He could not tell them es:\ , iy why, but he was very strong in his fep'iirs.^s in that direction, and he was sure they wfjfuii i-et a volume of support throughout the j whole colony. He anticipated that Mr y.e.Mon, while ho was at) Home, would t ai^e a rip to the Continenb where these light J.-aH ays are in vogue. A man like Mr BeAfi<n , with great perceptive power, would vh i\ short time, as well as anybody, or betfter than most people, draw his deductions (and give them in New Zealand the benefit of them. He was certain that if Mr Seilldon was satisfied in his own mind that if light railways were desirable and essential ml this and other parts of New Zealand, he wdbuld put his hand to the plough, nnd they* could not get a better man. (A voice: Andfhe won't turn back.) He (Mr C.-.rroll) wala getting every information he could from either parts of the country, through the Public Works Departments. The Under Secretary for Public Works had been in comtminio:<>tion with the Tastnauian authorities with r^espeob to their railway

there, and he was also collecting information from other colonies and from other parts of the world, and that information would be forwarded to the League. (Hear hear.) Especially were they getting information on the subject of cost. He did not think he could say anything more. He might now be allowed to introduce another matter, and would add this, that he had had a precis of the report from the surveyor who explored the stock route, and he had a conversation with him as well, and he said there wonld be no difficulty in making a stack track. He did not see why they could not have that in the meantime and wait for the railway. (Hear, hear.) The difficulty the surveyor had was iv selecting camping grounds. They would have to clear 12 acres at intervals for camping grounds, which would have to be selected with regard to a supply of water, etc. That was the chief difficulty. It wanted a good man to make those selections, a man of somo experience. Mr Llewellyn Smith, who went on the tour of exploration, had a terrible time of it, and thought he was never going to extricate himself owing to the precipitous nature of the country, but he found a better route through more level country on his w*y back. There would be no difficulty in making a stock track, and that b, ing so he would suggest that in their leisure moments, while still keeping in view the main question of the railway, they should give a little attention to the stock track and see how they could get to work at it. The Chairman : I suppose that will be gone on with this summer. Mr Carroll : We must. Ib ought to be the first thing ; it is so easily done. The Chairman said it would be very useful to run mails over the stock track. They had been ten days now without a mail from Auckland. Mr Reeß : It will be two or three days more yet. Mr Carroll said, with reference to the difference with Wairoa, he thought they should assist Wairoa all they could when the time came. His opinion was the time had not como for that yet. The principal question was the main line. The Chairman : We must not fall out with them, but we are the A line, and they must be the B line. Mr Carroll said there had been a very large number of people visiting the Hanmer Springs this last summer, and it was almost certain a line to that place would be asked for. Mr Whinray asked if there was any possibility of getting the stock track put in hand at once. Mr Carroll said ho did not see why not. He would like to get an estimate of the cost of falling and clearing. Mr Whinray said he did not think there would be any difficulty whatever. He had been up there and he thought it could be accomplished within the next nine months. Mr Matthews said he did not think it wonld be advisable to start falling bush after the 10th August. The Chairman said if it was light bush they could fall any time in the summer. Mr Matthews said he meant that to get a bnrn about Christmas they must fall the bush about August. Capt. Tucker said he understood that the surveyors sent out by the Government left no track behind them. Mr Carroll : Only blazed. Capt. Tucker said those marks would no doubt be useful to the surveyor himself or any member of his party, but they were absolutely useless to all other people. He thought ib would be desirable, before all traces of the exploration were entirely lost, to leave some permanent mark of the line along which they went— he meant that they should cut a track four or five feet wide, a sort of baseline from which they would explore for a better track. It would be very inexpensive ; it ought Dot to cost more than jfilOO, because they had a fairly good track cut by the Mining Association as far as the Koranga .river, whence the country became fairly open. Mr Carroll did not think the traces would be absolutely obliterated by the time they would take action in the matter, because not only waß there the blazing which had been done, but the party going along the route must form a track for a good apace. Capt. Tucker said these marks would be useless to the public generally, whereas a four or fire feet track would enable the publio to go right through to Rotorua if they wished. Mr Carroll said the surveyor would like to make another exploration to see if there was a better track. _ Mr Rees thought Capt, Tucker's suggestion waß a good one, as anyone could go along such a track, and surveyors would find it very much easier to prospect from such a track than having to chance getting back on their own track. Mr Tiffen said if this track was cut the public would not go exploring. It was only the surveyors would ever explore, and they had better leave it to the surveyors to do their own work. Captain Tucker said if a bricHe track existed they would find many part es would go right through to Rotorua next summer. He knew two or three parties who would do bo, and thoss people going backwards and forwards and acquainting themselves with the line would be of very great advantage. A greab deal of curiosity had been raised about that district, and many people would visit it if facilities existed. Mr Carroll aaid they might depend upon the eurveyors exploring the best route, whether they blnzed or cut a track. Immediately they fixed upon that route let them make one job of it, but if they cut a track here and there and used that track to explore another route they consumed more time. Mr Matthewß said the survey party made no marks coming back, as being Bhort of provisions they had to push on with all peed. His opinion was that a small party could easily make a truck along which they could take a horse, which would be of very great assistance to the surveyors in exploring for a better line, as time would be saved in the carriage of provisions. Captain Tucker urged they should first make a bridle track, which would enable them to find out where the permanent and wider track would be. Mr Matthews : A track like that would ba invaluable. Mr Carroll said they would have to wait nntii the weather got a little better and then have ft further exploration. The surveyor sent out might out a track or he might only blaze it ; at any rate, he would explore the best route. Capt; Tucker : He ought to cut a track ; we ought to have something of the sort there. It .would take very little longer to do that. The Chairman said he thought that was a thing which would occur to any surveyor to do for his own convenience. Mr Rees : He would be scarcely entitled to do that without specific instructions from bis department. Mr Matthews said ib would be better to make a track they could send horeea through, even if they had to abandon part of it afterwards, than to have a gang of men carrying provisions. Mr Carrolll said when the weather was better they would send Mr Smith in again. He knew his way about dow and would have a good look round. The Chairman proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Carroll for his adress. Capt. Tucker seconded tho motion, and in doing bo said he was very glad the hear from Mr Carroll mention of a stock track. Although this was a meating of the Railway League, and he had nob proposed to say a word about anything but the railway, he was extremely glad to hear that the stock track had nob fallen into oblivion. The wisdom of keeping the stock track in view was this, that even if steps were at once taken they could not have the light railway for years, and they wautnd some means of connection with Rotorua now while the matter of the railway was under consideration. Mr Matthews also added his meed of praise to Mr Carroll for mentioning the stock track, which he looked upon aa a very important thing. There was a great deal of good land there, and the sooner it was opened up the better it would be for everybody concerned. 16 would give an impetus to trade in Giaborne aud assist everybody, but at present the land was simply lying idle and unproductive. The country also contained some splendid bußh, and if they got the stock track and eventually a railway the timber could be utilised instead of being burnt. The Chairman said it had been stated throughout the district that the matter of the, stock route bad been shelved, and that they were taking up the railway for that purpose. Such an impreassion was absolutely

unfounded. He was confident) in his own mind that) the stock route was going^ on in the usual course of routine in tho Survey Department, and Mr Carroll had now assured them that such was the case. The vote of thanks was unanimously carried, and the meeting terminated.