RAILWAY AND IMMIGRATION COMMITTEE.

Southland Times, Issue 2144, 2 July 1875, Page 3

RAILWAY AND IMMIGRATION COMMITTEE.

A Trell attended meeting of this committee was held in the Council Hall on "Wednesday evening. The Chairman, Mr J. W. Mitchell, presided, and in the absence of Mr Scandrett, Mr K. Matthews acted as secretary pro tern. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. In his opening remarks the Chairman stated that two of the reasons why the Committee did not meet during the month of May were that the Provincial Council was sitting, and that then they had not received expected communications from Sir Julius Vogel. Now they had. The business to be transacted during the evening was of an important nature. The Assembly would soon sit, and it was proper for the Committee to bring forward whatever they deemed would aid their representatives in discharging their duties more vigilantly than they otherwise might ; in fact, to strengthen their hands. It was contemplated to transfer the Southland railways (Bluff and Winton lines) from the Provincial to the General Government, and it would be right for the Committee to ■ pass a resolution urging that tho proceeds of such a sale should be expended on necessary public vror]<6 in Southland. The Eeunion Compact provided that the proceeds arieing from the sale of Provincial railways in Southland should be expended exclusively within the Southland district. (Hear, hear.) The Chairman then read the following letter from fir Julius Ycgel : — 7 Weslmit gter Chambers, Victoria street, Westminster, S.W., May 4th, 1875. J. W. Mitchell, 1 fq , Chairman, Railway and Immigration Committee, Invercargill. Sir, — I hare ihe honor to inform you that I libvo not been unmindful of my previous Bsnnnrro lo you, that I would promote, as •well as I could, direct in-.migration to the Blufi. 1 have instructed the Aqent-General to despatch, durirg the twelve months beginning May, 1875, and ending Atml, 1876, eight vessels direct to ihe Bluff, with 200 statute ai.iL.lt irrmigrauts for that port on board * f each vessel. I liuvethe honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, Julius Vogbl. He considered that a more satisfactory It- tter could not have been sent to the Committee, and the introduction of such a number of people would have a most material effect upon the prosperity of every individual in Southland — town and country. This very success increased the reeponsi- . bility of the CYmmittee, and they required to attend to the obtainment of better quarantine accommodation | tban at present existed at the Bluff. If they were the means of bringing large numbers of people to the district, it was clearly their duty to provide proper accrmmodation for them on ilnir arrival. Ihe prt-sent qunrontine barracks were contemptible, were on the wrong side of the Pay, and were unfit for the reception of immigrants who might arrive in ill health. The rest of the business would be chiefly confined to the moving of a resolution touching increased traffic on the Mataura railway, and the submission of a report from the County Enquiry Committee. Mr Cuthbertson aaid that he had much pleasure in bringing forward the resolution, which after making a few brief remarks, he would submit to the meeting. He might remark that in the Assembly last year, he had taken action similar to that suggested by the motion. It might not be very easy to | get money which once found its way into the Provincial Treasury, but he would do all he could to get that accruing from the sale of such a valuable asset as the Southland railway?, spent to the advantage of Southlaud. If the Port Chalmers railway was worth £200,000, the Bluff-Winton railway was, to speak moderately and comparatively, though the figures might seem large, worth £1,000,000. He might mention that the Legislative Council had thrown out the Bill passed by the Lower Houfe authorising the transfer of the railways in question. However, he had much pleasure in moving — That the representatives of Southland in the General Assembly be requested to Bee that in any negotiations between the General and Provincial Governments, having in view the sale and purchase of the Southland railways, care be taken that the proceeds be applied in extending the railway system, and the construction of wharves and bridges in Southland agreeably to the terms and conditions of the re- union of the provinces of Otago and Southland. This was seconded by Mr Thornton, and carried unanimously. "With regard to enquiries anent the county Byetem which it was supposed might be introduced after the abolition of provincialism, Mr McKwan, on behalf of the sub-committee, stated that the information obtainable was not sufficient to warrant it in bringing up a report. Mr McArthur said it was necessary that something should be done to in crease the Quarantine accommodation at Bluff Harbor. The site of the present barracks was very unsuitable, they were totally unfit in themselves, and it was absolutely necessary to do something, seeing that so many immigrants were about to arrive in the district. Spencer's Island would nanke a most suitable site, and be believed that its owner might be induced to sell it. He would move — That the General Government be respectfully memorialized suggesting that, as a regular succession of immigrant shipß, involving an additional annual increase to our population of probably about 2000 individuals, are now coming to the Bluff, a suitable locality be selected for a qua-

rautine station, otherwise -such vessels; having any epidemic on beard would have to proceed to Port Chalmers to land their passengers at the quarantine station there. Mr Mclvor seconded the motion, which produced a pood deal of discussion. Eventually Mr McEwan moved, Mr Roes seconded as an amendment, and it was resolved — That the attention of the Government be directed to the state of the quarantine barracks at Bluff Harbor, and to urge them to got saaie completed before the arrival of the emigrant ships, shortly expected. Mr M'Arthur observed that some alteration in the running of trains on the Mataura railway was necessary, if the convenience and advantage of the settlers were to be consulted. The trains as run at present did not suit, and he would move— That the Government be respectfully requested to run an out and in train iu the morning, and the same in the evening, between Inverrar^ill and Mataura, otherwise the railway cannot be utilised, as people coming to town on business under the present arrangement arrive between 5 and 6 p.m., and roust leave the following morning at half-past 8 — too late and too early to do business — consequently, without an alteration such as is suggested, the country people must continue their old modes of loci motion. Mr Blackwocd seconded the motion. In supporting it, Mr Boss showed logically that as at present run the trains could not be used by persons coming to town to transact a few hours' business unless they remained in town for a night and two days. This was perfectly ridiculous, and the expense was considerable. The motion was carried. Mr Hobs moved, Mr M'Arthur seconded, and it was unanimously resolved—That Mr Brunton, the District Engineer be communicated with for the purpose of getting that portion of the line to the Lake Wakatipu, from "Winton to Daniels' Crossing, opened with as little delay as possible. MrM'Ewan, referring to the Bill passed in the Provincial Council _to devote the Po*t Office corner, which had been acquired by the Athenrcum, to the purposes of a site for a Town Hall, brought forward the following motion, at fust without the last clause— That this committee loarn with regret that an attempt has been made to upset certain arrangements entered into between the General and Provincial Governments and the Athenroum with regard to the site for public buildings, and that in the opinion of this committee any depar ture from tho arrangements entered into would be detrimental to the best interests of the community— in consequence of endangering the completion of the public buildings. The Chairman ruled that ihe motion, as it at first stood, was inadmissible. A p;rc;it denl of di^eUßeion ensued, several amendments were proposed, and at last Mr McEwan added the words, "in conse- | quence of endangering the completion of the public building?," to the motion, which the Chairman then considered admissible. Mr l\oss then secended the motion as amended, and it was carried on the voices, the only dissentients being Messrs Eose and Goodwillie. Mr Cuthbertson, in a few remarks expressive of his pleasure at tho fact that the Premier's knowledge of and attention to business and the interests of the colony were at last winning even the adhesion of foes to his policy, moved, and it was unanimously resolved — That the cordial thanks of this meeting are due, and are hereby accorded to the Hon. the Premier, Sir Julius Vogel, for his uniform and courteous attention to the representations of this committee regarding direct immigration to the Bluff; and for Mb prompt and businesslike action in directing the despatch of eight immigrant vessels to the Bluff during the ensuing twelve months, aa advised in his letter to the Chairman, of 4th May, read this evening. The usual courtesy having been accorded to the Chairman, the meetiDg terminated.