STOPPAGE OF RAILWAY WORKS.

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 February 1902, Page 2

STOPPAGE OF RAILWAY WORKS.

Per Press Association.

GISBORNE, January 31. At a public meeting held to-night re the stoppage of railway works, it was resolved to the following effect: "That this meetingregrets that the Government found it necessary, in order to keep within safe financial limits, to stop all works upon the GisborneKaraka Railway, and urges that the work be resumed at the earliest possible moment prudent finance will admit; that what are emphatically needed in this district are railed roads to carry the produce of the interior to the ports ; that every year valuable timber is being destroyed which, if ce-ii served,, would form a most valuable colonial asset; that it is a matter requiring tho gravest consideration, before rolling stock is purchased, whether it would not be belter even now to revert to the original pioposal of the Hon. Mr Carroll and convert the line and its future extensions into a light railway, in order to obtain more rapid extension than otherwise possible ; that settlers in .the inland districts are urgently in need of the relief which railway communication would afford; that a survey to the Motu should be pushed on with the greats est possible despatch; that the Crown and native lands in th£ interior should' bear: a prop jrt ion of interest upon any special loan requn-ed to extend the line as a main inland line beyond the Karaka."