Seaward Bush Railway.

Southland Times, Issue 9214, 12 May 1886, Page 2

Seaward Bush Railway.

' ~*. A meeting of the Committee appointed to watch over the interests of the above railway was held yesterday afternoon in the Council Hall. His Worship tho Mayor presided, and Messrs Dennieton, Feldwick, J. T. Martin, D. Smyth, J. Hatch, M.H.R., Caraweil, and Johnson, were present. After preliminaries had been disposed of, Mr Denniston moved, seconded by Mr .Martin :— " That tho Hon. the Minister of Public Works be respectfully requested to make provision for the immediate completion of the authorised c bet ion of the tieaward Bush Railway, as tho portion completed terminates at a point where it will be comparatively useless to the public." The mover urged that the five and a half miles of line necessary to reach Oteramika Bay should be completed before they pushed the Government to undertake a further section. Taat he might say was Mr Balance's opinion. The mo. oa was carried unanimously. The chairman read tho correspondence (already published) which had passed between him and the Ministry with reference to the unemployed. In his last commuDicatiOQ he had pointed out the au-. periority of the local line over theEien-dale-Toi Toia branch aa a field for occupation of the unemployed. Mr Denniston spoke in support of tho Mayor's proposal, and said that Mr Feldwick and he, after going through the votes for the railway had come to the conclusion thai; the sum remaining would would do about one half of tue work necessary to reach Oteramika. Mr JFeld wick moved: — " That the Government be respectfully urged to immediately let in email contracts the work

of bosh foiling and clearing on the ' &*** r- Bash line from the end of the present formation and railway (six anH a 1 half miles from Invercargill) to the open ""-land *at Otcramika for tbe follow-in:: reasons:— (l) Because tho execution of the work would render tho lino avai!u!.U< to soirie extent for passenger traffic between Invercargill and Otoramika ; (2) because the carrying out of this work, while going in reduction of the cost of the next contact for formation, would facilitate the speedy' construction of the next Section ; (3) because at the present time inthe district of Southland numbers of men, owing to the depressed state of the eawmilling industry, am out of employment, and to whom the Government. by letting tho bush falling in small contracts^ would afford immediate relief ; at the Vamo time getting the ~work advantageously and cheaply performed. That the hon. Mr Biillance be reminded of tbe promise made- during his recent visit to Invercargill to recommend bia bon. colleague the Minister for Public Works t<\ carry, out the work indicated above." — Seconded by Mr Johnson and carried unanimously. Moved by the Chairmao, seconded by Mr Johnson— " That the member for the town, io conjunction with the member for Awarua be asked to wait upon the Minister of Public Works to urge upon him tho necessity' for opening the first section, now completed, of the Seaward 'Bush liae."— • Affirmed. ■ Mr F«ldwick moved, seconded by Mr Cars well — 'IThat the member for the district be requested ;to secure the authorization and speedy construction of the line - across and to the east bank of the Mataura • river, and to advocate the immediate putting in hand of the whole work."— Carried. Mr Denniston moved, seconded by Mr Martin — "That in view of the early opening of the first section of the Seaward Bush railway the Minister of Linda be urged to have surveyed and opened for settlement such additional portion of land along the line aa may be found most suitable for that purpose." — Affirmed. On the motion of Mr Martin, seconded by Mr Johnson, it was resolved that the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to the^ members for the district with the view of , their jointly presenting them to the Government. The committee then adjourned after the dsual vote of thanks to tho chairman.