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EXTENSION OF THE NAIRNE
RAILWAY.
MEETING AT NAIRNE.
[By Telegraph.]
Mount Barker, September 12.
A meeting was held at the District Hotel,
Nairne, to-night, for the purpose of advo-
cating the construction of an intercolonial
line of railway from Nairne via Kanmantoo
and Callington. About sixty persons were
present, and Mr. Chapman, J.P., was in the
chair. He read a telegram from Mr. Rees to
thefollowing effect — 'Public business renders
it impossible for me to leave Adelaide. I have
done everything I can to advance Nairne inte
rests in connection with the route of the rail
way, and am certain the Government policy
is to advance those interests. Rest assured
that n-y untiring support will be given
to the route endorsed by my friends and con
stituents at Nairne. The Hon. J. Carr
agrees.' A telegram was also read from J»Ir.
Carr, saying :—'r Cannot leave Parliament to
day. Will do utmost in endeavour for
railway ; fully believe Government Bill will
propose Kanmantoo route.'' The Chairman
said he did not agree with the Courier in
thinking that Nairne was. better off as the
terminus of the railway. He had seen Mr.
Stewart, the surveyor, who informed him
that he had found a route from Nairne to
Callington with a gradient ot 1 in 45,
but that k would be longer, and
consequently more costly, than the former
survey, giving 1 in 40. The Courier accused
Mr. Carr of carping, but he had only asked
what he was requested to do by his con
stituents. He thought if the line was to be
made it should be as direct us possible. Of
what use was a line from the junction to
Nairne ? If it were not extended it would
degenerate into a horse tram. Mr. King
moved— 'That a memorial be prepared
for presentation to Parliament in favour
of the route between Nairne and
Callington, and that signatures he obtained
from all parts of the district.' He said. Mr.
Boucaut's original scheme for the Inter
colonial Railway included the line for which
they now asked. The motion was carried
unanimously. Mr. G. Gale moved— 'That
Messrs. Chapman, A. H. Dunn, J.P., Wil
liams, and King be a committee to draw up
the memorial and obtain signatures.' Mr.
Timmens, seconding, said that the railway was
a national matter, and whichever route was
the cheaper, whether by Nairne or Wistow,
should be adopted. Mr. Johnson, M.P.
for East Adelaide, had said that
the Callington Mine never paid, but
every one knew that thousands of pounds'
worth of copper were raised, but
waste and mismanagement had interfered
with their success, ll they had been worked
properly and judiciously they would be busy
to-aay. Cheap railway carnage would re
suscitate the mines. Access was still to be
had to Mr. Alfred Hallett's books, which
would show the amount returned and where
it went. The Chairman said he had been
credibly informed that the Callington Mine
had paid a debt of £30,000 on the Worthing
Mine. With such a handicap, no wonder
there were small dividends. Practical men
affirmed that there was no better mine in the
colony than the Callington Mine. The motion
was carried unanimously. Mr. J. Clezy,
J.P., moved — ' That the sympathy and sup
port of this meeting be given to the Govern
ment in their endeavour to pass an Inter
colonial Railway BilL' When in town
recently he saw the members for the district,
both of whom said very considerable opposi
tion would be met with. They mentioned
names, and said strong influence would be
brought to burke this line in favour of the
Wentworth scheme, and it would be as
much as they could do to carry it The
so-called desert was the great objection,
but it was unfair to underrate its capabilities.
Even if not fit for wheat it would grow lucerne,
and with a thousand acres of that butter and
fat cattle were possible when others could
not produce them and had lean stock. At
present squatters held the land and would be
much annoyed and chagrined if they had to
clear out, Mr. James Forrest, in seconding
the motion, said he knew the desert well.
He had crossed it twenty-five years ago, and
constantly since. For the hist fourteen years
it had been fenced in by squatters whose
wool had fetched from a penny to three
half-pence more than the best grown else
where. He had seen patches of good wheat,
and in the worst parts of the desert he had
seen a crop of rye seven feet in height. Parts
were covered with good grass, and good water
was obtainable almost anywhere at a depth
of eight or ten feet from the surface. Things
seen were mightier than things heard, and he
spoke from experience. Mr. King supported
the motion, which was carried unanimously.
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