The Thames-Paeroa Hallway.

Thames Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8389, 27 June 1896, Page 5

The Thames-Paeroa Hallway.

BOROUGH COUNCILLORS ALIVE TO OUR INTERESTS.

Although the matter of the construction of the above work was not before the Council last evening in a. formal way, a few minutes' interesting discussion arose through a few words

which the Mayor let drop as to the „> necessity of the people of Thames taking such action as will let our Legislators know that as a community we do not intend to be'deprived of necessary railway communication with the surrounding districts. The Mayor said he did not desire to see any action taken in the absenoe from the Thames of the County Chairman, but directly Mr Dunlop arrives from Wellington he thought it was the duty of the executive of the Borough and County Councils to oombine, and, by calling a public meeting, get the voice of the people on the matter of the work. Either resolutions of that meeting could be forwarded to Parliament or a huge, petition could be got ' up/or still better, perhaps both could be done. At any rate it is essential we should show that if we can help it we are not going to be left out in the cold. It seemed that all attention in the matter of railway construction was being directed to the Main Trunk line or the Paeroa-Waihi line, and hot a thought was being given to the Thames.

Gr Poulgrain entirely concurred in ' the remarks made by the Mayor, although he thought it would be better if the Railway Committee took the initiative in the matter of calling a public meeting. No time should be lost either. The Mayor: We. will have to wait until the County Chairman «omes back. Cr Poulgrain : Oh, certainly ! Cr Foy thought the matter might be brought up at the Borough Council meeting next Thursday. Cr Davy: It might be brought up then and we could pass a resolution asking the Railway Committee to take action. The Town Clerk suggested that now the interest in ourjimining developments is becoming so general it is a very opportune time to agitate for the construction of the line. He thoroughly believed in the efficacy of a public meeting for the strengthening of a Parliamentary member's hands and as a means of drawing the attention of Parliament to a want. Cr Foy: Let the meeting be an open air one. JSTo hall will be large enough to hold the crowd that will be present to insist upon the work being carried out. The Mayor dwelt upon the advantage, the line would be to the Thames, and said one thing it would do would be to place us within two hours and a . half of Te Aroha. Cr Poulgrain: Yes; also give us cheaper coal, which is an important matter to a mining community. We would get the article for less than half the sum we are now paying. tf The Mayor : We were told recently thai'-coal'can be landed atßotorua at 16s per ton,, and I am sure we could get it.for that here with the line right through from the Waikato, against 30s ~lldw paid. ; The discussion then dropped,