The Main Trunk Railway

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXIX, Issue 9155, 27 September 1898, Page 3

The Main Trunk Railway

(BXTBLKQRAPH—OWN CORREBPOSDBHT.) ( .. . Auckland, September 26. mass meeting in connection *i| the Auokland-Taranaki Railway iMgue was held, on Saturday night, and adopted a resolution calling on the Auckland and Turanaki members of Parliament to use every constitutional .'-■■• means to compel the Government to do simple justice to this part of the colony by providing railway communication ' between Auckland and Taranaki with" . out delay.- A second motion expressed ■ the publio's determination to oppose . of any member who . failed to support the railway regard i lessof party, ' i

(Per Press Association.)

v. „.. WmiiNOTON, September 26. . I AtV a .meeting t of Auckland and . Taranaki members, of both Houses to* ' y ■ Ahft the report of the eub»Oommittee m favor of the Stratford railway route . as. against the'central route wui 'adopted by twelvejotes to severi. ' ~lt, was decided that a deputation composed of aUinjfavor of theStrat ford route ehould-.wait ,on the Premier ;; at ine'earliest opportunity.

■•. (BY TBLRGRAPH--OVVN GORBEBPONDENT.)

.''.•'•.". Wellington,* September 26. Along meeting of the Auckland and Taranaki members w the railivayrou'e ■ was held this morning. ' ■-, 'Sir M. O'Rorke (in the Chair) read ; telegrams received from Auckland in favor of the Stratford route. He called on) the Hod, tym. McCullough, mover >.of ; tue r amendment, to speak, The Hori. McOullough took each clauser ot 5 his amendment aud asked thatiney be considered in the light of . common seDße. l i> {For the sake of argument he assumedthat. all favored the Stratford route. Then how to compass that end ? He considered that the first difficulty to be overcome -was that Parliament;bad authorised the central , rp,ute/an4 no. mbiiey had been voted fortbej other.' Manifestly the fi rstduty was'toTppeai $e Loan Act, 1886J apd until that,, was done .• the question of .the Stratford or coast line was not open •■ for, discussion;'but In the meantime/ /to. push the coaoh road frbm ; lstwtfqrcl'fc6'the Auckland end of 'the ; railway, &lt could approve and jo% to briti^ r presßure on the Govern* '■ment. ;He referred to the position if was repealed. Then the) Government would be forced to consider, whether it would be politio to cease -\vork on the central line, on 'which nearly half a million had been spejnt," to' "commence work on the Stratford line ?\ ■ Would Parliament consent to such a shifty policy? In addition, , 4?J jwfs not:proved that the Stratford routel was { the cheapest to construct.' It wae the longest route by 48 .'miles, to /Wellington, though the ehoytest from' Auckland to New Plymouft, v'., :■';,■"'i'-'r- -,:■•■■ .' Misers LaDg,Maßsey, Monk, Henry Kapu/Bollard, Brown (New Ply; moiiA); and Herriee all supported Mr amendment, ; -MeV?. Jennings,. Lawry Si and Sir M,|o'Eprke Vere the meet strenuous supporters ;of the report of the Com mitteejn fayor of the Stratford line. ; ;T|e, .argument was .not directed tei the questipr of what could be securedj but tb: i9Bueß, t as to tho value of the land'on'theseveral routes; . SiVM..O'Rorke forced the question of the Central versus the Stratford route, although no motion was made., The Hon..' Wm, Mc'Cullough pro-; testedagainst being .placed >iu a false: position, and voted under protest. '■ Mr: f Messrs Lan|, r Monk, and Herries voted with Messrs Bollard and Brown ■ refused to vote on the ground that such question was not at issue. 'Haying-secured a majority, the, Chairmk piifc'the report and ameudment. The former was carried by a majority, of; : four,, several.^jinbers . ■ The Honv, Wm-i; McCullough next ' ; propt»s|d that as there wap a distance of ,12:milejs. from the. Auckland end of theVrailway-to, complete before the point; of divergence_ to either the Central or the Stratford route, the Government be, urged to construct it withithe utmost despatch. This, upon which no difference bl ' opinion existed, the meeting refused to carry,, as if .referred toit • migljt allow the'Gpvernment td!Blip out of dealing , with the route question.;; \\ ■ ;l As the Hon. WmV McCullough remarked, the tates seemed determined to keen.the spirit of discord alive cen'cerning,the Auckland members ; : : .MrMcGowan spoke against the last 1 ; proposal; remarking that the Auckland people had never helped the Thames railway. '"' ' ; Such arguments are a sample ol thoso uttered by othet> memberß, •: