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Otago Central Railway League.

Chairman:

• His Worship the Mayor of Dunedin.

Chairman of Executive Committee:

• Wm. Barron.

Executive Committee:

• Bathgate, A. Burt, A.
• Brown, S. N.
• Brown, T.
• Barron, W.
• Chapman, C. R.
• Carroll, J.
• Clark, R.
• Denniston, G. L.
• Esther, G.
• Fenwick, G.
• Fraser, J. F. M.
• Gore, J.
• Jolly, J., Jun.
• Mackerras, J. T.
• Mitchell, J.
• Neil, J.
• Reeves, C. S.
• Reynolds, E. C.
• Rattray, J.
• Robin, J.
• Roberts, J.
• Shaw, L. M.
• Sligo, A.
• Stronach, A. C.
• Sargood, P.
• Slater, R.
• Wilson, R.

Treasurer:

• C. R. Chapman.

Committee of Finance:

• C. R. Chapman
• Jno. Roberts
• S. N. Brown
• A. Bathgate

Secretary:

• R. H. Leary.

Head Office:

• Corner Liverpool and Bond Streets.

Branches:

• Naseby—S. E. McCarthy, Sec.
• Cromwell—D. A. Jolly, Sec.
• Ophir—J. L. Flint, Sec.

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The Otago Central Railway League, knowing the value of such independent testimony to the capabilities of Central Otago as that recently given by Signor Bragato, Chief Viticulturist in the service of the Victorian Government and by Mr. J. C. Blackmore, Pomologist in the service of the New Zealand Government—experts whose opinions have additional weight from the fact that they as altogether free from the taint of local prejudice—has published the following extract from newspaper reports of what these gentlemen have said on the subject, together with some letters in a similar direction that have been addressed to the League by others whose knowledge and experience will also be admitted.

It will be observed that none of the papers treat specially of the mining [unclear: reso] of Central Otago; but, apart from the desire to keep within limited space, [unclear: it] considered that the generally auriferous character of the whole district, [unclear: and] steady production of gold, were so well known as not to require to be dwelt upon here. It should not, however, be overlooked that with railway facilities by which people could easily reach the various parts of the country, and which would [unclear: enab] miners to supply themselves with machinery, suitable timber, and other [unclear: requist] easily and cheaply, there must be increased employment in that industry, [unclear: and] output of gold must also be greatly increased.

The land to be affected by the Otago Central Railway is of great extent and value. It has been described by the late Railway Commissioners, Messrs. [unclear: McKerrus] Maxwell, and Hannay, in one of their reports, as "the largest and most [unclear: valua] estate of Crown lands in the Colony." As shown by an official map, prepared in 1894 by order of the Minister for Lands, there are, within a limit of fifteen mil[unclear: es] the railway, 1,862,800 acres in pastoral runs, 409,800 acres in small grazing [unclear: re] 776,100 acres disposed of, and 99,400 acres in endowments and reserves. Included in these pastoral runs, which will be available for closer settlement as the leas[unclear: es] in, there are 449,000 acres of arable land. Beyond the fifteen mile limit there [unclear: is] course, an immense area of similar Crown lands, which will also be greatly [unclear: enh] in value as the line progresses.

Beyond Eweburn, to which point the line is now under construction, th[unclear: ere] no engineering difficulties until Clyde is reached, with the exception of three miles in the Poolburn Gorge, between the Idaburn and Manuherikia Valleys. [unclear: The] for the whole of that distance, about seventy miles, with the exception na[unclear: med], been described by the late Mr. Blair, engineer-in-chief, as being such as "may [unclear: al] be taken as surface forming." The continuation of the railway to those [unclear: part] Central Otago, so highly spoken of by Messrs. Blackmore and Bragato, will [unclear: thus] seen to be comparatively inexpensive.

The League hopes that as the merits of the railway become more widely known it will be recognised to be not merely an undertaking affecting the prosperity of the provincial district of Otago, but one of great colonial importance, certain to [unclear: open] for closer and more profitable settlement a portion of New Zealand which [unclear: in] great agricultural, pastoral, and mining resources is capable of giving homes [unclear: to], finding suitable employment for, many thousands of people.