WAIMATUKU TRAMWAY.

Western Star, Issue 353, 29 May 1880, Page 2

W AIMATUKU TRAMWAY.

A well attended meeting of settlers, interested in the formation of a tramway up the Waimat uku valley to Jacob’s River, was held at Mr J. Brown’s residence, Upper Wairaatuku, on Thursday evening. The convener of the meeting, Mr W. A. Lyon, was voted to the chair, and gave an explanation of the proposed scheme. He then sa ; u the first thing to be clone was to see if all the settlers were in favor of the proposal, and then consider iu what waj the object could bo brought about. Mi* Lyon’s proposal was, shortly stated, to to borrow from the Government a sum of £16,000, on condition

that the settlers pledged themselves to payinterest thereon. It was estimated that the lengfh of the line would be sixteen miles from the Waimatuku railway station to the proposed bridge over Jacob’s River at James’, and the cost £IOOO per mile. He referred to the state of the roads, which were such that that line district was completely shut up in winter, thus rendering competition with other districts impossible, and as it was very probable tlut subsidies to Koa I Boards would soon ba discontinued the settlers would bo in the same position as they were before the Road Boards existed —that is, if they wanted to get access to their homestea Is, they would hare to turn out and make roads themselves.

Jiue proposes ura:uway race wouia noi uo more expensive than a Road Board rate, and with a line running up the Flat v-ry little road making would be required, and every settler would reap a benefit. As an illustration of the advantage, to settlers of the proposed scheme, he instanced tte case of a deferred payment settle r holding 200 acres of land, who, if he farmed ir the most approved style, would erop a fifth part of forty acres of his ground every year; estimating the yield of grain at 40 bushels to the acre, there would he 28 tons to cart to market, the

present cost of which would be at least 15s per ton, whereas the railway charge would only bo Is 8d per ton, thus showing a saving on a 40-acre crop alone of over £2tT per annum. That, he con tended, was a fair calculation, and rather under than over the mark. Then *he saving of freight on building material, and every article required on n farm would be considerable, which a farming eommunity would fully appreciate. Injwsoncluding he said lie thought lie had mac.fe it clear that it would pay settlers to submiffe): a 2. per acre tax to have a tramway,, but he did not believe that more than Is would be required. It was also a question to bo considered as to the best way to work the tramway. Would the settlers let it, or would they work it themselves ? Ho thought they could easily get a party to lease the line for the revenue, and the settlers would then have only a deficiency of interest on amount borrowed to pay; but that, perhaps, was a matter for after consideration. He then left

the matter in the hands of the meeting, and invited a free expression of opinion on the proposal. Mr J. Smith (Bayswater) said the question might occur to some of those present, what was the origin of the proposed scheme ? It arose in this way. Mr M'Caughan asked him if he (Mr Smith) could do anything to assist him in carrying out a promise that he made to the sattlers on Waimatuku and Oreti Plains to open up that country by means of a tramway or a railway. He (Mr Smith) did not attacli much importance to the remark at tile time, but it afterwards occurred to him that a light tramway would serve the purposes of these districts for years to come. He thougnt it was no use asking Government to make a railway, so he proposed that they should apply to the Government for a loan of £16,000 to construct the tramway, on condition that the settlers pledged themselves to pay interest on that sum. He had made enquiries of a man well acquainted with railway making,and he had estimated t hat the cost would not exceed £IOOO a mile. He mentioned the proposal to Mr M'Caughan, and asked him B lie could get the money. Mr M'Caughan replied that ho did not know, but requested that his application should be backed up by a strong petition. Ha (Mr Smith) then communicated with Mr Lyon as to whether it would be to the interests of the settlers to

carry out the proposal; and hence the public I meeting. . The work, he thought, would have to be carried out through the County Council, or other responsible representative body, and let the settlers pledge themselves that they would be liable for the interest. If the settlers were satisfied that the plan was worth the expenditure, it would pay them well. If it would not pay to grow grain, let them raise sheep and send home mutton and wool. Mr M'Caughan slated at his meeting at Riverton that he would aavoeafco. the construction of tiie tramway, and thought the Government would accede to the request to advance the necessary sum. lie did not think the rate would exceed fid per acre, and he felt sure they would save double that amount. He suggested that anything they proposed doing in the matter should bo done quickly, so t hat Mr M'Caughan could take the matter in hand early iu the session.

Sir J. Walker road somo calculations ho had made on the subject. He estimated the number of acres liable to bo rated for the tramway at 44,763, and a 6J rule on that quantity would be ample to pay interest on £16,000 nt 7 per cent. Ho described (be proposed route of the tramway, which he stated to bo similar to that selected last year when they were agitating for a railway. The line would net interfere with the traffic on the Otautau railway. Ho thought tint the settlers should not all be taxed alike for the tramway ; the land near the line should be assessed at a higher rate than that further bock. Ho was greatly in favor of the proposed tramway, which would enhance the value of land. Mr Grive believed that most of the settlers were iu favor of the proposal, but he thought they wore heavily enough taxed already, what with Road Board, County Council, property, and other taxes.

The Chairman replied that if they had the tramway made, there would be no necessity for such a heavy rate by the local bodies.

Mr Carmichael said he hud given the matter some consideration. There was no doubt they were already heavily rated, but they wanted a railway to assist them in paying the present taxes. If the land were worth £1 per acre more, they would be all that the richer. He thought the Roal Board and County Council should he curtailed. Road Boards, however, would, soon be a thins of the past, and if the line were constructed there would not require to bo such a heavy expenditure on roads, Mr Laidlaw then moved that a vote be taken on the proposal to construct a tramway at a rate not to exceed £IOOO per mile. A conversation here ensued upon several details connected with the proposal, when Mr Allison said lie was in favor of the proposal, but would like to be supplied with substantial data as to the probable cost and other particulars. He hoped that they would all be unanimous in support of the proposal, and if any cue objected to the route let them out. He himself was perfectly satisfied with the route, although he did not know its directions. Mr Young thought it would be a mistake to errss Jacob’s River too low down. If the line went, a mile or two further up the river, it would tap the up-country traffic, and timehelp to make it pay better. Mr Smith said crossing at James’ meant a bridge at half the cost anywhere else. The County Council proposed putting a bridge there, and he thought they should be asked to erect one that would suit for tramway as well as ordinary traffic. The line need not necessarily stop at James’, although it crossed the River there ; it could be taken along the bank for a greater distance if necessary. The question of the purchase of the land for the tramway was raised by M" Teviotdale, The Chairman said on the former occasions the settlers offered to give the land for nothing or at a very moderate price. Of course ire some cases, where a paddock was cut up, a certain compensation would have to be paid. As far us ho (the Chairman) was concerned, the tramway could enter one end of his property and go out at the other, and he would make no charge. If the settlers on the Waimatuku were to turn round like those on Jacob’s River, the prospect would bo put a stop to. An expression of opinion on this point wasasked for by the Chairman, A number of gentlemen were personally appealed to, each of whom expressed himself willing to give the necessary land free. Only one gentleman sail he would not part with the land unless lie received comuensal.icn.

Mr Laidlaw’s motion was- thea poi ami carried.

Messrs Lyon and Allison were then appointed a deputation to wait upon the Wallace County Council on Tuesday, and Messrs Carmichael and Laidlavy to attend the Southland Comity Coun< il on Monday, asking them to take charge of the expenditure of the money in the event of the Government granting it, and exert their inlluenee in getting the I.S a constructed. Mr Allison then addressed a few pointed remarks on the subject of urging thf Government to grant a number of 281 b rails for the tramway, and getting the member for the district to put their case before Parliament. Messrs Smith, Lyon, Walker, Carmichael, oung, Laidlaw and Ay son, were elected a committee to carry out the object of the meeting. The next meeting of which it was ar-, ranged, should be held at.Gladfield, on Thursday next, 3rd June. The whole of those present there signed the petition to be forwarded to Mr M'Caughan for presentation to the Ho ise of ilepresenlativea. The meeting then adjourned.