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SOMERTON RAILWAY.
reopening approved.
Financial Backing Considered.
There is every "prospect of tiio condi
tions sot down by the Minister of Rail
ways in connection with the proposal to
reopen tho long-disused rnilwny from
Fawknor to iSonierlon being complied
with and the lino olice again put into
operation. A lurgcly uttcuded meeting
of residents of the northern portion of
Coburg, Caniphclliicld and Broadmeadows
was hold in Sylvaiiia Hall, Syduoy-road,
Cainpbelllicld, to consider the question!
.Ihe president of the Broadmeadows shire
(Cr. Irctliewaii) occupied the chair, and
rcpreseutuliyes of the adjoining munici-
PUlltlOH atld HratrrnM DCinfiinfinM.
present, as well as MeBsrs. J. Jewell niid
I'. Koane, M s.L.A.
The Chairman outlined the history of
the movement for reopening of 'the lino in
tlio pnst twenty years. Ho said that
when ii lug deputation recently waited
on the Minister with incontrovertible nr-
gumcJits tli4? request was favorably re
ceived. '
M t- Mitchell, town clerk of Coburg, said
bis council bud received a letter from the
Railway department stating that the Min
ister had gjveii careful consideration to
the views submitted by tlio deputation on
the proposed reopening bf tho Fawkner
to bomerton railway line for passenger
trafiic. The institution of a rail motor
service for the carriage of passengers
po'int u- los? of approximately
r f a ye'H.\ 1" view of the unsatis
factory condition 'of the finances of the
btnte and the department such a loss
would be a big load to impose oil either.
Ihe council was asked whether it would
be prepared to enter into n bond or
guarantee to provide against any loss
which might result from the working of
the line for fivi>. years. He hud no doubt
as to the earnestness of the ratepayers
and the proposal had only to be 'sub-
mitied to receive instant endorsement and
allow the line to bo placed nt the ser
vice of a largo number of residents who
were sorely inconvenienced by the lack of
transport. No doubt the resumption of
traffic in much better conditions than
over beiore would result in a rapid in
crease in the number of houses and fami-
hes and consequent support to the line
ihe meeting resolved to support the
proposal to buck up tlio line finaneiallv
as requested by the Minister of Rail
ways.
Another public meeting will bo held to
consider the formation of a trust.
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