THE ORETI RAILWAY.

Southland Times, Volume 3, Issue 102, 17 October 1863, Page 5

THE ORETI RAILWAY.

A numerously attended and very influential public meeting was held on the evening of Wednesday last, at Messrs. Mueller and Geisou's Auction Rooms, Tay-strcet. A platform stretching the length of the rco n was thronged by the representatives of the principal professional andraereantile firms of Invercargill, and the body of the premises was occupied by immense crowds of the general public. The object. which had called so many together, was the necessity of expressing an unanimous opinion upon the proposed abandonment of the direct line of Railway to the Lake, in favor of a deviation through Wallace - town. The proceedings of tha evening were commenced by Mr John Blacklock moving that Mr "Duncan M' Arthur preside. The chair having been talcen, the Chairman Tead the advertisement Convening the meeting, and asked a fair hearing for the " various speakers. He would deprecate the delay which was likely to follow the amend- 1 merit carried in the Provincial Conncil on the previous night, if the same was persisted in. lie did not think the evidence of the Chief Surveyor, backed by that of the Engineer, ought to have been so passed over% If they . followed the course suggested by the majority ■ of the other night, whilst they were beating about the bush, Otago would step in and carry ' off the prize. They must have a direct line without delay. Mr Watt then proposed the following resolution; — "That this meeting views with alarm the action taken by a majority of the j Council in reference to tho railway scheme proposed by the Government, and is of opinion that such a course of proceeding will deeply injure the reputa ion and credit of the Province." He said he felt like Sampson shorn of his locks. He had just been informed that the majority of the Council, whose proceedings they were met to canvas, \vere likely to come to their fight mind, were willing to listen to the voice of public opinion, and would probably re-consider the decision of the previous evening. This circumstance would greatly modify the tone of his remarks, and prevent him expressing his opinion on the conduct of certain of the majority of the Council as he had determined. It was a current idea that there was no public opinion in Southland. The appearance of this large and influential meeting, notwithstanding the inclemency of the evening, Was a sufficient refutation of the assertion, and he hoped that this meeting would be the beginning of that political life and action. which would watch over and promote- the interests of this rising Province. ( The speaker then exhibited a map, showing the railway route as proposed by the Government, and the route via Wallacetown, as carried by a majority of the Council.) He said that,' the deviation would cost the country L 10,000; and the must momentous interest connected with that famous locality (so far as that interest was patent to the public ga2e) is a single' public-house. But the waste of public money which this devia- ! tion involved was not the most serious aspect of this affair. The Chief Surveyor had stated that it would be impossible to survey the • new line caused by the deviation, so as to have it constructed and opened by the coming winter. Now it was of vital consequence to the trade of the Province^ that the line should be opened before the wet season sets in. If we missed the trade for the coming year, it was doubtful if ever we recovered it. He said he was not going to ignore the interests of any part of the Province, and if lliverton had grievances to redress, or wants to be supplied, let them be stated in a straightforward and constitutional way, and these who urged them would have the sympathy and support of all-right thinking men. But to oppose a. scheme which was of general interest till some particular interest was satisfied, was to substitute a subsidiary benefit for the public good, and was unworthy of the name of legislation.- What are the facts of the case : — The Riverton members and their friend* have set up the two places in opposition, and over the conflict of interests, M'Kay is seen hovering like a bird of p-ey, with his dingy pinions ready to pounce on the spoil. " Tho opposition to the Government scheme of ruilways originated in Riverton ; they do not want the line-tua Wallacetown, but they say this, "If you do not give us a line, we will propose the deviation, and though we do not approve of it, it will shelve the general jailway for another year." Thus, gentlemen, the 500 of llivhxton have stuck up the 8000 of the Province, and like a daring bushranger, hold this threat in terrorem, and demnni a

,waste of pubjic money or the sacrifice of ourtrarle. They have made the Wallacetown deviation the' Cat's'paw to land the che'snut in Uiveffohj-witnout any consideration whatever of' the public go r od. This is' the secret of ttie opposition. The only principle atSvorlt. They give no reasons, for. they have none to ,urge} and some, of, theni have stated in choice swearing, that they dont give a very objectionable subsfantive.for the whole affair, lie had tried to imagine the r aspect in. which future generations will view ,the -proposed deviation, and had heard Mr. llodgers' children^ children asking how it was that the railway went out and in, like a dog's hind leg, '" Who proposed 'suqh fa line, and by •what means was the Bill ; 'carried in the Council?" "My dear,** answers tlie^'venerable dame, "There have' always been mute points in our" family, but as thosfe immediatelyconcerned, are no w no more, 'I may as well tell you that a tall. man,- resembling a huge tarantula, once laid hold on your* grandfather} and though, three weeks previously', he had declare.d for a sensible line, this, .clever man|w io took his name from- a great Ilussian Erhperor, talked him over"; so., he Voted wrong, and never prospered after." And, Scott,; too. what will his feelings, be in .the. autumn of his days (the'sumnie^or Vfhich gave promise of so much honor/, when the same questions are put to him? i.But he'll not survive the • disgrace, and the_prognosis othis friends will be engraven on the tablet to his memory, asa , warning to all future legislators, "Died; tlirough a want of public confidence, brought' on by keeping bad 'company." As fot the* gallant Captain, he is so perfectly innocent of everything like. civilisation, that anything I: might say, would be like throwing water on a duck's back t, in fact, ,the.hon. member is ! amphibious,, having lived morcin the water than out of it. He has never seen a railway and has an instinctive aversion to all new ] fangled notions in general, and " Steam , railroads in particular." He knows how to " call a spade, a spade," and has epitomised : his. opinion of the Avhole affair in his -own terse "and graphic style, ami to all future, generations, says, •• I don't cate (giving the renowned substantive) for the whole scheme, or any part of it." Sir, this is as much a financial question as the passing of the-Esti-mates. It resolves itself into this — Shall the Customs revenue, obtained by Otago from the Lake trade, continue there, or revert to ! Southland-? For if we have not the facility of communication with the Likes which a , railway affords, in another year the Otago , Government will have a port in the West Coasr, and almost the entire benefit resulting from this trade will be confined ; to our neighbors. Some of our country members affect to despise trade in this view of it. They forget that whatever promotes the general well-being subserves private interests. It was the resources of trade that increased the revenue of -this Province from £11,000 in 18G2 to .£40,000 in 1863, advanc- \ ing it by £29,000 in nine months. It is not yet too late for the majority of the Council to \ retrieve their error and save the Province, i Let them give up the little " Peddlington idea" and return to the puths which a comprehensive view of the science of Legislaton dictates, and the public will honor them. But let the issue of this struggle be what it may, we have the satisfaction of having tried to .arrest the evils their ni il-administration shall have involved us in. Let us be warned in time, and let every man, by registration, take the first step in exerting that influence the franchise g yes him, and then, at the next election, we will be able to say to the honorable Mr M'Kay and others, "stand down and mak ■ way 'for honester and better men." Mr.Wmltussel (of Messrs M 'Donald and Kussel) seconded, and the motion Was carried with enthusia-mK Mr Macdonald (Dalgety, Rattray and Co.) moved the second resolution*. — "That in the present position of the l'rovinco, arfd in view of the exertiois made by Dunedin to secure the Lake trade, this meeting strongly condemns such legislation as may prevent the construction of a railway as far as Winton Bush before the beginning of next winter.'' In support of this motion, there was veiy little left to be said, as Mr Watt had already spoken to nearly every resolution on the Chairman's paper except his own. It might therefore be the best course to advert to Mr Watt's resolution, which affirmed that the action taken by the majority of the Council " will injure the reputation-and credit of the Province," of this there could be little doubt, if in a matter of such universal importancethe General Gover- i mant show our Council by a narrow majority of one condemning the Government plans for ; no avowed reason, and sanctioning a scheme which palpably advanced the interests ofa few ; individuals at >a sacrifice of both time and ; money to the Province at large, it was doubtful if the loan would be sanctioned, but if it were, the aspect of the affair and the reckless dealing of ,£IO,OOO and a year of precious time would not tell favorably for the loan on the Stock Exchange, or among can.italists ra the neighboring colonies. The speaker went on to remark that the activity of our formidable competitor — Dunedin — would make the railway of little avail if not finished within the present season. Another view of the question was, the adverse vote of the Council might, and probably would, lead ; to the resignation of the present Executive, ' and then all progress would be stayed for a ' long time to couie. The honor of conducting ! our public business might be a worthy object ! Of ambition to gentlemen who had leisure for i it, and one of the six -might possibly think that from recent experience he was quite : qualified for any post; but if the six thought < it desirable to test their strength with the Government, surely they could find some j question of less vital importance than the railways. What had been said about sordid and selfish motives he had no sympathy with ; for his part he had no objection to look upon Mr M'Kay and his friends as pureminded philanthropists, if they wished it. Three of the six 'must be universally ac- j quitted of having a money interest in the deviation of the railway; but it was not motives, it was actions which this meeting had to deal with, and to let its Voice be j heard — that no body of men should be a bar to the progress of the province without, at I least, having a warning sou-tided in their ears. _He had just heard that the Council had "adjourned in ordsr to have time to reflect on the subject before finally adjudicating upon I it He hoped that such reflections* aided by a strong blast from the present meeting, would cause some of the majority to tack about. Mr Law, of Messrs Morrison, Law & Co. seconded the lesolution, and it Was carried amidst cheering Mr A. W. Gilles (of the firm of Ca-ey and Gilles) moved the third resolution : " That, without entering into the question of the desirability of a line to •Wallacetown, this meeting views with surprise ana indignation the action of the Council in setting aside the plans Of the Government Surveyor, supported by all, the Engineering authority of the Province, .and in adopting a scheme in favor of Wlticjvinio evidence has been adduced." Mr Gilies;in moving this resolutions spoke as follows :-^-The resolution that I liave the honor to submit to this'-meet-ing fully conveys the feelings that actuated each of us in being present; this evening, and there is hardly room.,lefft i for»rr^m;ark.; It must be patent to.aUjpr^en^^that'-Jlihe.step taken by the pppositic.u"lnj§mbersf.isj destructive to the.',^e^ij.tf]t^reßte; T q^XVßi9ftYsr™r a ment service, : of first class&iry'GycfiteM^ knowledge and -(gjqicnenctf ouglit to i'pe' sui^. flcienfcguar'Rh'teel ; thftb;th"ieir>isury&y\^rnistpdi the only data F upbiivw'hich the Gbiimiit:cotild;proceed, that body set aside the : reports iaijdj, evidence by overriding Mr HenTes' valuable;: survey, and introducing a deviation that will,if persisted in, -delay tho railway for 'another year, a^.d likely lose us the Lnke trs,d£, s \rith out a thought about the cost of •; time uiul

iribney^the, purvey Apartment has beett ar, anct giving np logical argupenfrto justify sueh r a step ( it is tbxj, niore uppatent, v hen I tell^ y.oathat the 'deviation oK the line, thfough Wallncetown - is / not * rfle rock t Upoa f vwhich' \ve Wl split; M th"=it^ that diversion is the pressure that is 'brought to bear upon the Town for the benefit of Eiverton, by thfr threat that if we do not support tlfe latter Town in obtaining. a branch line, they* will induce honorable members to throW out tlie Bill altogether. I am stating a fact, 'for I have been told so by the gentleman who was the original cause of the digression^ and who also threw out the hint to Riverton members to introduce the branch off by TVallacetown, which was to be the'irfstrment in their hands to drive us to assist them in obtaining that which they fear the natural resources of their pariT will not enable them to accomplish. It is. the old fable of the dog in the manger, they .cannot-have their line, and we shall not have ours. We can hare no. objection' txr their.haVih'g -albranch, but ye will not be tied.dp>vn-to support a measure that we may have dq'ubjß^.abput its. success. XI K I .believe that ypu .will all' join witbr'me in feeling that our proper course is JiVmly \ fmd. respectfully to peVitipn ttie^'ttombersrof Council, plainly pointing out fh'e f f injqry to the Province that musf. 'result fi-o:n- th§ . 'introduction, of the proposed deviation from our Chief - Surveyor's 5 report, a report 1 that has ucost that gentleman months of careful and anxious' 3 thought, and that the raembersof 'that hon. ? . body yrill* asmany-an eminent statesman before has done, "bo.w: 'to public opinion." Look at,, ihe effect of such conduct upon the Stock, Exchange. Will not the cautious old gentlemen, there, who have money to lend, watch our movements,and if they find that we throw a6ide our Engineers' report's to" gratify the private interests of those in power— at a cost of or £20,000 more to the Proviri'ce^-ref use our : debentures and decline any connection with us, ani justly so, too. Again, we shall find the people of Southland and the neighboring Provinces, canvassing: this, our first great step to advancement, and pointing at us as entirely unworthy of support. I much fear the Council are not prepared for the consequences of their action in this matter, for should they drive our Treasurer to resign— a gentleman who is vastly superior to any of those who would be called upon to succeed him —the colony would suffer a very serious loss, and it might terminate in the Gouncil being broken up* and. then we should be at a deadlock, and Southland would, to a great extent, collapse, giving Dunedin and the West Coast the trade that we shoulJ and can enjoy, for even at the present time, with all our diffiqulties, we can forward goods i to! ■ the Lake at £15 to £20. less than the Dunedinites can. and we need not fear the West Coast, with its harbor of seven feet, when placed against our Bluff Harbor, with any depth, with wharf and direct rail to the Lake, occupying only . six hours in reaching that envied spot. I cannot be charged with selfish motives in taking the -active part thit I have done in this matter, because experince has proved in Victoria, that directly a railway passed through the country, that day destroyed one important branch of the business that lam engaged in ; but there is a higher ground that we all look to than that followed by a few members of the assembly— of self-agrandisement. Gentlemen,— l hope by your unanimous action this evening, you will impart a moral that vhll act as a guide in future legislation in this province, and that we shall take ortr position in ranks of public opinion, that reflect credit upon our common sense and clear rsightedness, and give confidence to our friends in other parts. Once more 1 would say firmly, but respec fully'petition the Council to meet public opinion, and grant Us the direct line to the Lake. Mr Weston briefly seconded, commenting upon the injustice proposed to be 'inflicted on the best iijterests of the province, and the resolution was carried. ' Mr Harvey (of Messrs Harvey •end Stuait) proposed the fourth Resolution .^-" That this meeting respectfully submits the preceding resolutions to the consideration of the Council, in the hope that the action taken in committee may be reconsidered, aud sucji a course adopted as will secure the speed}' construction of the direct line to Winton Bush." He thought that Were the direct line interfered with, a death-blow would be dealt to the traffic of the province. If a deviation was wanted, let those who desired it construct a branch line, and pay for it themselves. He was glad to s:e that the Provincial Council had had the good sense that evening to adjourn the consideration of this vexed question. Unless a "different view were taken of this railway by the Council, the commerce of the province of Southland would greatly suffer. (Cheers). Mr T. M. Clerke seconded, and the motion wa^ carried. . Mr Miller (of Messrs Miller and Co,) briefly moved the fifth resolution- " That Messrs Macdonald, Watt, Blacklock, Gilles, TannocK and the Chairman, be appointed a committee to prepare a memorial, embodying the foregoing resolutions for presentation to the Council." Mr jamicsen (of the Bank of New South Wales) seconded, and the resolution was carried vociferously. Ijpon the motion of Mr Weston, the name of the Chairman fMr M* Arthur) was added to the committee. Mr James, Tannoch moved the last reso* lution-*" That Mr Tarlton be requested to present tho memorial to the Council." He trusted the Council would for once be wide awake to the interests of the public. At this stage an amusing contretemps took place. A shrewd auditor found that a committee had been appointed without having had any duties assigned them, and innocently asked what they were to do. The question seemed to strike the Chairman like a fit of the ague, and he anxiously looked round for 1 a solution of the difficulty. Mr Watt (who had risen to move a vote of j thanks to tha-Chairnoan) explained that they had been enacting the play of Ha— let, with the Prince of Denmark -left out. It was an omission on the partof the. clerk who tran- j scribed the resolutions. The Commi: teewere to prepare a.membrial, to be presented to the Cduhcil... \. He said it gave him great pleasure to ask'-fora vote of thanks for their Chairman. He could have^wished that some hon. members had emulated the example of Mr M'Arthur, who, though he had large property in the district of Wallacetown. which the deviation line would benefit— iii fact, the j proposed terminus is on his land — yet ! says that he would rather throw it in the fire than make public interests subserve private ends. Air M'Donald hinted in his speech that he (the speaker) had imputed motives to some in the .Council. He had ; the acts of public men may be publicly canvassed, and if you cannot find a motive for their conduct in consonance with the trust the public have reposed in them, you may be sure you will find a private and selfish one. Such a motive he had imputed to Mr M'Kay 5 and had the hon. member been as anxious to free himself from suspicion as he now appears to be, he would have absented himself from the House during the discussion on the second reading of the Railway Bill f and not have laid himself open to the. charge of prostituting the public trust to secure his personal aggrandisement.^ (Cheers.) -A.voteof thaiiks was,-then passed to the Chairman^^indi die assemblage dispersed.

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