SEAWARD BUSH RAILWAY.

Southland Times, Issue 3154, 22 July 1878, Page 2

SEAWARD BUSH RAILWAY.

A meeting of gentlemen intfres'ed in the promoti >n of the Seaward Bush Railway was held at the Albion Hotel on Sa'urday, at 1 o'clock. Mr Denniston was called to the chair, an i requested Mr Dalrymple to report progress. Mr Dalrymple, after the petition to tbe House of Representatives praying for the conßtruciion of the railway by Government, bad been read, stated that the petition had been signed by nearly 700 individuals, including the influential meo of Invercargill. Mr A McNab, of "Coapdale, then moved that the petition, be entrusted to Mr Wood, M.H.R. for M«taura, for presentation to the House of Representatives, and that the other Southland members be requested to co-operate with Mr Wood in pressing the matter of the railway on the attention of the Government and Parliament. Further, that copies of the petition be forwarded to the Sons. Dr Menzieß and Sir Francis D. Bell, with the request that they would support any measure which may be the result of the action now taken. The motion was seconded by Mr Pratt, who argued strongly in favor of the construction of the railway, contending r.bafc prirate eff -rt w^uH be inadequate to utilise the resources of Seaward Bush. Mr Wood supported the motion, on the ground, «ra ng others, that there was a township in the heart of the bush, and thai another Pad been surveyed showing ihe railway running through it. He w. uld reckon it a breach of faith if the line were not made, But independently of this, they hnd in the Seaward Bush district, a splendid forest, and * splendid piece of country, portions of these being <-lo*e to the town |of Invercargill. Tbe construction of the railway would furnish employment and homes to thousands of 'be people. Besides, tbe work was not a great one. They had sleepers on the spot and it would be a cheap railway. Plans and specifications were already in existence, and this part of the expense had not to be met. The undertaking should not be delayed, especially iv anticipation of immierants for whom it would provide work. There never was a more just demand made, in bis estimation, and the sales of the land that would ensue would pay for the milway over and over again. He declared his intention of giving the petition every support, end enlisting *or it all the influence he co Id CO'Tirnand. Mr McNab adverted to the purchases of land that had been made, some of them as high as £10 per acre, on the express understanding 'hat the railway was to come into existence. The motion was unanimously carried. After the usual compliment to tbe chair the meeting separated.