OREPUKI RAILWAY.

Western Star, Issue 374, 25 August 1880, Page 2

OREPUKI RAILWAY.

A public meeting of the residents of the district, convened by the Mayor, was held in the Town Hall on Saturday evening, " to consider the action of the Government in not providing for the.completion of the Orepuki railway." Notwithstanding the boisterous weather, V ,ere was an attendance of bet weeing fty and sixty, and the greatest interest was manifested in the proceedings. On taking the chair the Mayor (Mr Jas. Eeid) said the reason why he had convened the meeting was because it h<id been suggested by a number of prominent citizens, and would afford an opportunity for an expression of opinion on the action of the Government in not putting a sum upon the estimates to finish the Orepuki line. The amount which had been voted was only for the completion of the present contract. The Commissioners' report had raised high hopes in the minds of the people in the district that the line would be completed, but it appeared that the Government had made no provision for adopting the Commissioners' recommendation with regard to that line. The meeting would show that the district was highly dissatisfied at the way it had been treated, and would also show that public spirit had been aroused, which would resent such treatment. There had been so many conflicting reports and figures with regard to this line that many had been led astray, and an opinion was prevalent that a sum had been voted for the completion of the line, but he was quite convinced, although he had not received any communication from Mr Hirst, that puch was not the case. He had the previous day drafied a telegram to Mr Hirst, requesting him to forward information as to the position of the matter, but the telegraph line was down north of Christchurch, and in consequenee the message could not be forwarded. He (the Mayor) then read extract of Parliamentary report, showing that Mr Hirst had strongly urged the Government to complete the line, and it was clear that the Member for "Wallace would not be doing so if the Government had made any provision for extension of the line. The reference to the western railways in the Public Works Statement merely stated that the " sections now in progress would be completed," from which he inferred that there was not the shadow of a doubt but that tho i

Government did not intend to go on with the line. On various occasions the Government had held out hopes that the rOepuki line would be competent without delay, which had induced many people to anticipate the line, and it would bo most unfair if such promises were not redeemer!.

Mr F. Locke moved the first resolution, as follows, " That this meeting regrets that the Government have not seen fit to place a sum on the estimates for the cjmpletion of the Orepuki railway, the same having been strongly recommended by the Railway Commission, and further regrets tliat the promises made by the Government regarding the completion of same have not been fulfilled ; this meeting would strongly urge the Government to place a sum on the supplementary estimates for the purpose of completing the said railway." The mover said he need not tell the meeting tbar, the money already expended would be utterly useless if the line were not completed, neither need he remind them that, when completed, the line would be a great benefit to Eiverton, as it would create a considerable coasting trade in coal, shale, &c, thereby giving employment to many who were at present much in in need of it. Mr Crockett seconded.

Mr Callaghan said he was competent to speak on the resources of Orepuki district, having resided there for a period of ten years, during seven of which he carried on business. The expenditure already incurred would be an utter waste of public money unles» the line were completed. He referred to the valuable deposits of coal and shale, and thought it strange that the Government should delay the work. He was well acquainted with New Zealand, and he had no hesitation in saying that Orepuki was one of the finest districts in the colony. Mr Watson condemned the railway to Orepuki as a wasto of public money. A tramway would have been sufficient for the requirements of the district, and could have been constructed at one-third the cost. Instead of agitaing fur a railway to Orepuki, an effort should be made to improve the harbor. The last Fpeaker introduced matter not connected with the subject of the meeting, and was several times called to order by the chairman. Mr Daniel enquired what was the use of improving the harbor if there was nothing toshipfrom it. With the railway open to Orepuki, a considerable traffic would arise in the shipment of coal, &c. H« was one of thoso who were nndt r the impression that the vote of £17,000 passed was for the completion of Orepuki line, but from iufoimatiou he had received since he entered the room, he was now of a different opinion. He hoped, however, when the supplementary estimates were tabled, thanprovUion would be made for the extension of the line. Even although \the line were delayed he felt assured of its ultimate completions lie had, i-ome lime back forwarded a report of the resources ot the Western District to Mr Macandrew; the Kailway Commissioners cam* 1 down to see whether the statements he made were true or not, and from the fact that the Orepuki line wns one of the only two lines in Southland recommended to be completed, it was evident that they had endorsed his report. There must bo some antagonistic influence at work wheu the recommendation of .the. Commission was not adopted. One of the members of the Commission expressed himself as greatly surprised that the Orepuki Hue had been so long neglected. Mr Daniel then rehired to Mr M'Kerrow's and Professor Hutton's favourable reports on the quality of the timber, laud, coal, shale, &c, that abounds in that district. Coal could be landed in Dunediu at 18s per ton, while Kaitangata coal cost 25s there, and iustead of sending money out of the country for coal, cheap and inexhaustible supplies could be obtained at Orepuki. If we were to compete with other countries in sup. plying timber, we must have railways. He had seen vessels in Kiverton harbour capable of carrying 400 or 500 tons, and if occasion necessitated, vessels of a similar class wonld agaiu visit the port. The country would demand the immense tracts of valuable timber to be opened up. Professor Hutton reported that the shale at Orepuki was of good quality, and the oil superior to any he had seen, and in vast quantities, but the deposit was in densely timbered country, and no port nearer than Eiverton. The land traversed by the railway was all good, and was still in the hands of the Government. He did not expect that the line would stop at Orepuki, but would be continued on to the Waiau, which point it would have reached years ago, but for the opposition he experienced from certain people in the district; but that would not stop him from continuing to advocate the line. He came to the town when there was only one hut iu it; he had a large family, whose interests he felt it his duty to promote as far a 3 possible. With the resources of the district developed, no other district could compete against it. It contained he believed one of the richest goldfields iu New r Zealand. Mr Daniel also referred to the grain growing power of the di-strict. He then urged the people to put shoulder to shoulder and strive to yet their railways completed. Hitherto they had been too lukewarm. There were people iu the district who did not want these railways, but he did, for the sake of his family.

Mr R. Eiddell said he showed the coal and shale deposits to the Commissioners ou their recent visit to Orepuki. The seam of shale was six feet thick, aud it gave a return of 42 gallons per ton. The coal seam was 16ft thick.

The motion was then put and carried unanimously. Mr Daniel then proposed that a copy of the resolution be forwarded to Mr Hirst, for presentation to the Minister of Public Works.

The motion having been seconded by Mr Galloway was put aud carried.

A proposal to form a committee to keep alive the agitation in favor of the railway was suggested, but the meeting did not appear to think such a committee necessary. A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the proceedings to a close.