THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 1, 17 August 1911, Page 5

THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

COUNTY COUNCIL ALA LIMED

At tho meeting of the Stratford County Council yesterday a petition urging tiic building of the Opuniko railway was received from tho Clerk of the Norman by Town Board, a inquest being made that tho petition be signed and returned. This petition was tlio outcome of the meeting of representatives of local bodies held at Kapuui some timo ( ago, wind, vas considered by the Borough Council on Monday, and with whica tuo t ouncil was not satisfied. The Chairman said he uad attended tho Kapuui meeting as the County’s representative. There was an alteration in the preamble ic tho petition which lie did not like. 'The pi camblo spoke of the signatories only as U-r.ig electors of Egmont and Pa tea and he did not like the colour which tho omission of Stratford gave tno matter. The making of a railway from Opuiniko to the main line at Stratford was of the utmost importance to the whole of the Stratford ' ■ iterate,, ai d he saw no reason why they should to loft out of tlio preamble and asked to sign the petition. He was an elector in Egmont, but was ac the tabh> as a Councillor of the Strati o'd County. He could not understand how tiic omission occurred, it might have boon done accidentally, hut it might have been purposely done to giro the matter a colour which at the Kapuui meeting it was expressly desired to keep out of it. The Council should walk very warily in the matter, and should keep its hands free to ad.’ocato its own route. He thought the I own Board should bo informed that the Council objected to the urea in bio as it differed so much from ohe decision arrived at at the Kapuui meeting. Ho moved that as tho Stratford electorate had been omitted tho Council did not see its way to sign the petition.

Cr. Marfell suggested that the better way to put it would lie to c ly that if Stratford were included tlio Council would have pleasure in Mipporting the petition. Cr. Astbury then moved, and Cr. Marfell seconded: “That the petition bo acknowledged, and that the Clock of the Town Board bo informed that if Stratford electorate is included in tho preamble the Council will bo willing to support the petition. Or. Waiter said it should be marie clear that i 4 was desired to have Stratford inserted in all tlie ] etitions issued. It would be of no use if only tho petition forwarded to the 1 'uurcil were altered. The Clr-irman .said ip was under stood that Hat was the id.u. Cr. Walter then drew atten+mn t ; . the incon r n.pence which night i o caused thereby. Peo no who had signed the petition as issued might say that Mioy had ihum sc voder tinimpression mat Stratford was not to be included. Cr. Astbtmy: If they chese tcftulfcify themselves by a f >! >h act on that is their wn fault. The motion was carried. The Chairman then moved: “That in the event of the foregoing resolution not being given effect to tlio attention of Messrs. Dive, Hine, Jennings and Okey, M.P.’s, bo drawn to the significant omission.” This was also carried, and lb 3 matter dropped.