THE RAILWAY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9802, 23 July 1903, Page 4

THE RAILWAY.

♦ EXTENSION TO MOTU. ( A TRAMWAY PROM KARAKA ] SUGGESTED. < At the Railway League meeting yes- , terday afternoon, discussion was contin- j ued on Mr W. L. Rocs's motion^ "That , the Council be approached wit-li a. view , of laying before that body the advis- , ability of obtaining sufficient power itself to -place it m a position to carry on the ] construction of the line from Te Kuraka ] to the Motu." The Chairman said such a resolution ( would be more likely to impede the extension of the railway. As the Govern- . me-nt could only construct the railways m New Zealand, to get the sanction of the Government would take a long time, and the work would be discontinued m the meantime. The survey of the line to Motu had been authorised. Mr Gaudin, while seconding Mr Rees' motion pro forma, opposed it heartily. It looked as if they w<;r« attempting to throw cold water on the Bay of Plenty League and efforts of the Auckland members, who were showing much interest m ; the extension of the line. Captain Tucker said that, to judge , by the past, the end of 1904 would not , see them connected with Karaka, but they could not reasonably expect to be further than Karaka by the end of next year. If that were the rate of expenditure with which the Government we«e to carry them, when would they get to the Motu? Their object was to be. connected with Motu, the connection with Karaka was assured, and it was only a- question of time, but perhaps the. Government would say "sufficient for the day is the evil thereof — we will get to the Motu, but you must let us get to the Karaka first." If the League waited for a defin ite promise, they would wait a long time. All this time the timber at the Motu was being destroyed, and they looked to that to make their railway pay. The present aspect of affairs did not justify them m thinking that they would make the same rate of progress as m the last two yearsj for it appeared that the public works 'expenditure must be decreased and not increased. It had token them so many years to go 12 miles — would they be satisfied to get to tin? Motu at tlie rate of four miles a year? They had no right, as reasonable men, co get there any faster. Mr W. D. Lysnar : It is six years since the first meeting was h«ld. Captain Tucker thought if they wanted rapid connection, with Motu they must look to themselves. He therefore hoped that a proposition akin to Mr Rees' would receive their attention, and they ought to debate whether the extension should be left to the Government to the exclusion of everything else. Mr C. A. DeLautour said if Mr Rees' motion was to abandon all hope of Go--2 vernment extension, he would oppose it, but it did not go that far. They wanted a sort of advanced carrier to reach the Motu and get out its produce, before it was destroyed — (Captain Tucker and Mr Rees : Hear, hear). — Captain Tucker was unduly pessimistic over the rate of progress, but the railway had been looked on at first by the Government as a toy to amuse the district. Now its future was assured, and the attention of the Government to other works nearing completion was being reduced. This session the Government could be asked for authority to take the line on to Poututu, and so get it on a stage,. By means of tramways the timber could be tapped, and the Council could be shown that they were wasting their time m metalling and maintaining their roads instead of getting on wheels, which ought to be done on the inland .. Waiapu road,, and other side lines could be made.. At present their settlers were getting disheartened — the Government lines would only reach them m the future. In the meantime send out advanced tramways, and there was nothing antagonistic m them to railways. Mr Lysnar said the phase of the question raised was an important one, and sooner than make a mistake they should give a fuller meeting an opportunity to i* decide on it. . It was a position he was ;, very anxious m the early days of the l. League that it should take up. After what had been done they should not look, on the position as hopeless, but offer the tramways proposal as an alternative m case they were refused extension by the Government. In 1897, when the League started, a gentleman from England had offered to get a syndicate to construct a line to Motu, with a, branch to Whatatutu, m three years, to be Landed over to the Government at a valuation when a connection was made with an outside line. If that offer had been accepted, they would have had connection with the Motu three years ago. Unless the Government could satisfy them they were going to make better progress than m the past, the League were bound to act under the 1894 Tramways Act. Before decision was made a deputation should be sent to Wellington. It had taken the League six years to get 12 miles done. The Mayor: We have been agitating for 20 years. Mr A. F. Matthews said they would not get to the Motu speedily if they | trusted to the Government alone, and if they could go outside let them adopt such a proposal. They had promises of branch lines, but nothing came of them. Mr R. M. Birrell said the proposed extension by the Council would ultimately get into the hands of the Government, and there was no hostility to anybody or any other League— it was helping the Government on. Mr Matthewson said there was no us<: running their head against a brick wall — the Government had had enough of private lincs^ and would not grant powers again to private companies. The power to borrow was the basis of all improvements, and there was a natural objection to rush the colony on the London market at the present time. The Government would not be averse, to a tramway, which was a different thing; and powers could be got for tlus, but the first thing was to impress on the Government the need for extension. The League had more backing now m the Auckland members and Bay of Plenty League. Mr P. Harris said the Government were not going m for borrowing money, neither hadf they much money to spend. AH parts of. the colony were asking for railways. The railway line to the Motu would pay— let the League guarantee the cost of the railway, and send along a gu arantee, and they would be m a better condition to get their railway than any other part of the colony. Mr Rees said Mr DeLautour had taken the more proper estimate of his motion and what he meant. He had said that m addition to going to the Government for assistance they should ask the local body to do it. The Motu line would not come for some /time, and the settlers were breaking their hearts because they had not proper access. The County Council could get powers to construct tramways to the Motu, Whatatutu, and other districts. The tramway to the Motu could be m working order by the time the Karaka line was opened. There were no bridges, no rocks to tunnel through, and he was informed that the grades were not bad. Mr Rees thought the Council would, by the votes of the people, be put m the position to lay a tramway of the same gauge as the Government line to Karaka. He firmly believed this could be done m 15 to 18 months, before the railway to Karaka was opened. Although a private company would not be allowed to construct a line, there were ample powers for a local body to do it. The cost would only be £1500 to £2000 a mile for light rails, instead of £8000 a mile. A year's produce and timber from the Motu would more than pay the amount of the cost of the tramway, and give settlers access. In approaching the Council they should not lay down any definite pla^ but should ask them to obtain the best powers they couid from the Government, and at the same time the League could impress on the. Government the necessity of doing something, and that they did not intend to be put off. The Chairman said Mr Rees' motion was to get powers to continue the line to the Motu. The tramway was a different matter. Mr Rees said he was willing to modify ins resolution. A tramway would be useful until the line was completed. Mr Lysnar suggested that the League should combine with the County Council "J.]™ n 6 » deputation to Wellington. If they could not get a promise, the A U r nc il c get powers as suggested. Air Rees felt the Government could not complete the line m time. Captain Tucker: They will not pledge themselves to go to the Motu m a given time. Mr DeLautour pointed out that the Council would take grades which the Government would Hot have. According to Mr Whyte, they could take their rails along the raid. Mr Rees: This is done m America. Mr Townley: But they have better roads m America.., There are nine bridges to construct on the main Motu road. Captain Tucker thought the Government should favor a tramway, to Motu, as whatever was brought down would be grist to their mill. After further discussion, the following resolution was adopted: "That the County Council be approached with a view to obtaining all necessary powers to construct a tramway to the Motu for the purpose of opening up that district and utilising the vast quantities of timber therein m a reasonable time."— Mr Harris was the only dissentient. It was deSided that the League should interview the County Council at noon on Friday, 31st inst. ,