AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1698, 24 May 1883, Page 2

AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

The North Island Trunk Railway, Auckland, Last Night. A si'hciAL meeting of the Chamber of Commerce Mas held today. The chairman, ])r. Campbell, said .1 member had waited upon him, and asked him to convene a mooting in reference to the Taranaki railway, but they could not call it that; it was re illy the North Trunk lt.ulway. He moved "That the sum of .-010,000 having been voted for the pmposes of defraying the expenses of the necessary piclitninary survey to ascertain the best line for the North Trunk Kailway, and the borrowing of the same, one million having been authorised towards the construction of the same, the Chamber begs to approach Government with a recommendation that a commission be appointed of purely disinterested members to direct the manner in m hicli the £10,000 ought to bo expended.' Mr J. M. Claik seconded the motion. It was almost impossible to get information now, the country not having been examined from a scientific point of \iow. Anyone looking at the matter from an Auckland, or impartial point of view, must come to the conclusion that the line should ho connected w ith the Wellington and Wanganui line at a point as far north as possible. A great deal of excellent land on the West Coast would thus be opened up. Unless there were great engineering difficulties in the way, the line should be from Te Awamutu to the West Coast. Ultimately a line might be made from Napier thiough the middle of the island. — Mr Thon.as Peacock pointed out that a portion of the £10,000 vote had already been expended. If a commission were appointed they wou'd not be up to the engincei nj difficulties and would be of little use unless they comprisod engineering authoiities. No commission of commercial men could siy how the money should be expended on surveys. He thought the mot on might delay the matter. He moved, as an amendment, "That a committee be appointed to watch over the interests of the provincial distiict of Auckland with regard to the Northern Trunk Railway." —Mr Thomas Mori in spoke strongly in favour of the West Coast route, pointing out that a line in that direction would open up a better portion of the country. — Some further discussion followed. — Mr J. M. Clark pointed out that the intention of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce in the action they were taking was not so much to develope their trade as to damage Auckland. — There wag no seconder to Mr Peacock's motion, and it lapsed. — The Chairman's resolution was agreed to.— On the motion of Mr Wm. Aitkm. it was ordered to bo an instruction to the committee of the chamber to watch over the interests of the Northern Trunk Railway.

Railway Fares. lie railway fares, it was agreed that a letter on the subject from Mr Vaile should be circulated among&fc the members for consideration.

The Rotorua Railway. Mr J. M. Clark said there was another matter to which he wished to draw attention, although it might be considered premature. A company had been formed to construct a line of railway from the Thames Valley to Rotorua. Sufficient capital had been subscribed, and the natives so far co-operated in the matter that they were willing to give lands equal to oue-third the cost ; but the scheme had been interfered with by the Government — firstly, on the ground of a proclamation preventing direct private dealing with these lands, and, secondly, on the ground of the Thermal Springs Act. They would not allow natives to co-operate to make any arrangements. They said they were prepared to promote the interests of the railway, but they must be allowed to negotiate with the natives themselves The Minister of Lands wanted the native estate to experiment and tinker with, and in ten or fifteen years, if he had his way, matters would be in the same position as they are now. The natives had no confidence in the Government. The company would be balked in their intention of opening up the Hot Lakes district by a railway if pressure were not brought to bear on the Government to secure a relinquishment by the Minister for Lands of his hobby. Probably it would become the duty of the company to call on the people of Auckland and the Chamber of Commerce to assist them in forcing upon the Government the necessity of. making concessions. Very few of the promoters of .this line were owners of land on the route which the railway would travel, but they were convinced of its value in connection with the future of Auckland and of the colony generally. .The company was quite pre r pared e to stand aside if the Government would undertake to construct the rail-j way, but it must be done by somebody. As he had said, the matter was somewhat I yemature, , and<he. w|ould ,noi; move anyT itQbipii in oopeoiiipft'with is, , , - „ 4