RIVERTON-OREPUKI RAILWAY.

Western Star, Issue 455, 22 June 1881, Page 2

RIVERTON-OREPUKI RAILWAY.

A public meeting, convened upon requisition by the Mayor, was held in the Town Mall on Saturday evening, with a view to urging upon the Government the necessity of proceeding with the remaining portion of the above railway without delay. There was a large attendance, and great interest was evinced in the proceedings. 1 His Worship the Mayor (T; Daniel, Esq., J.P.) hairing been Voted to the chair, thanked these present for the honor conferred upon hiin, and expressed the 1 pleasure he had in presiding on that occasion. The line had been called one of Daniel’s pet railways ; bo had worked bal’d for it and he hoped he vtould be spared to drive the first engine, hot only to Orepuki, but to the Waiau; He then referi’ed to the enormous resources which che railway Would develop,' ahd recapitulated the steps he had taken in the Provincial Ccftncil of Otago to get this aiid the other western railways tmdertakon i referred to the abolition of the Provinces and the' lines Consequently becoming a provincial liability, which the colonial Government was bound to carry out. He had never ceased to agitate the construction of the Western railways,;-and he was glad to see one nearly finished—the Nightcap line. The Orepuki line, too, would have been finished four years ago but for some people'in the district. Mr MacandreW said soV~'avel* ever? to the Waiau he (Mr Daniel) replied. One hundred thousand pounds had been voted for the Orepuki railway last session, but the Government were . short of funds, and could not go on with the work. A commission was appointed by the Government, who reported in. favour of • the railway ; the Surveyor-General next reported favourably of the line; Mr Blair, the Chief Engineer, followed with a similar report; and: two of the Ministry likewise visited the district and were most favourably impressed with its resources, and the {necessity for the railway to open them up. Eacli of these gentlemen saw the coal for themselves, ,40ft. thick, and the earth that covered the deposit contained sufficient gold to pay for sluicing. The proprietors of the lease guaranteed to deliver the coal- in trucks at the terminus "at 3b per ton, and it could .bo delivered on Dunedin wharf at a price that would enable'itto be sold there at 15s per ton. With such advantages they should not ask for the completion of the line, but demand it as a right Again, some 40 or 50 people had taken np land on the strength of the line being completed at an early date, and it would be a great injustice to such if the Government did not carry out its promises. The bay at Orepuki was so un-afe that it was hardly possible for a boat to ride in safely. There was already one saw- mill about to be started, ■ and he had no, doubt there would soon be many more. If the railway was only completed to the Waiau, there would be no need of the Government sending to British Qplumbia for timber; there would be sufficient to supply the whole of the demands of New Zealand—aye, and of New South Wales and Tasmania as well. Many of the sleepers used on the railways were of an inferior description, and already required renewing, and where werq they to be obtained from, if such magnificent tracts of forest as those at the Waiau were to remain untouched. Mr Crockett then moved, That this meeting demand that the Government will take immediate steps lo complete the Orepuki railway, as the portion now finished is almost useless until the remainder be completed. The mover said after the Chairman's remarks there was nothing left for him to say. The demand- contained in the resolution was only what the district had a right to. The claims of the line lo be completed had been recognised by each successive ' vornmont, and it

deserved to bo taken in hand before any new railway was gone on with. Mr Hancock seconded the motion.Mr Ireland thought the word “ demand” was too strong and might be resented. Mr Hunter contended that “ demand” wall the proper word to use. The money for the line had been Voted before the abolition ot provinces, and the "colonial Parliament had also acknowledged the Vote; therefore we'had ,ft perfect right to demand the completion of the line. , , ... Mr Webb considered that hot only had they a right to demand the completion of the line on the grounds stated,.-but also because railways had been built to other centres of population, and as Riverton and the Western District bad contributed largely to (he VeVcnue the line in question’ought a'so to be completed without delay. Mr Callaghan said one good argument in favor of endeavoring to induce, not to force the Government to proceed with the line, was that the Pailii Plat had been surveyed into deferred payment sections, and many settlers had taken up land there in anticipation of the Government going on with the line without delay, so that they would be assured of an outlet for their produce. He considered the Government would be guilty of settling men on false pretences if the line was not proceeded with at once. Of his own knowledge be'kn'ew of people who had taken up land on the strength of the failway being pushed on, and if government did not carry out its promises, many of the settlers might be reduced to a state of bankruptcy. Mr G. Reid, with all due deference to the other speakers, took exception to the word “ demand” on the resolution. They could not force the Government to go on with the line, and it was absurd to demand a thing unless they coiild en!<Jf'c§ it, “Request” would serve tko same purpose-, and was sufficiently strong. Mr Ireland said the question was, Would such a word as “ demand” procure a more favorable hearing. He did not think so. Mr Crockett said the money had been voted by successive Governments, and we bad aright to it. We were only asking for our rights. It was futile to keep urging, and by adopting such a policy the line would not be finished for ten or twenty years. Mr Reid said he agreed with the motion, except with regard to the word “ demand.” He moved an amendment that the word 11 request” be substituted. This was seconded by Mr J; M'Dohald, but on being .piit wa§ iosL the original motion was (ben put and carried. Mr Ireland moved, That the immediate carrying out of the Orepuki railway will enable the timber, coal, Shale, and mineral resources of the district to be utilised for the benefit of the whole colony ; also that a large number of settlers had taken up land oh the strength of the railway being completed. The mover said if the line was not finished, it would be a laughing stock to the whole colony. The idisa of a railway Stopping in the centre of a dense hush; with nb roads leading tliereto, was Chough to make the light-hearted Hugh, and the -solemn weep. Ho hoped no such Absurdity. Would bo; perpetrated. He, how-: ever,‘did not approve of the word “demand.” They/stiOilld ti } and keep the Government in good luiniof; " Mr S. TayloV-secciqded and supported the motion. ■ The Chairman said ho was sorry to see the people of Riverton so lukewarm upon the subject. There was)nof a leading hiiln present; had such a meeting taken place in d,hy olllcSr part of the colony, the people would have come forward ifa dozens., RiVertoh had always been to the front, and He would not let it lay behind now. They had a good harbor, which only wahted a little improvement to enable them to develop a large shipping trade. He felt, certain all the traffic was not going by Thornbury and the Bluff. Mr Callaghan spoke regarding the coal resources of Orepuki. Sonde people might acciiso him of exaggeration when he stated that the quantify of coal was almost beyond belief ; but having resided for a period of ten years there, it would be understood lie had seme authority for his statement. The motion was carried. On the motion of Mr G, Reid, it was agreed to add the following to the first resolution: —That the six miles now completed covers the most expensive portion of the lino, and the remainder, which has already been surveyed, could be easily and cheaply constructed. It Was resolved, on the motion of Mr Hunlet, seconded by Mr Galloway, that a copy of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to the members for Riverton and Wallace, asking them to bring all the influence they can to bear upon the Government to get them carried into effect. The usual compliment to the chairman terminated the proceedings.