The Argus at KellyGang 15/7/1867 (2)
They had, therefore, asked for a line of railway merely, without mentioning any particular route. Now, however, they were in a different position. They had a report from the engineer-in-chief-a short one, to be sure-and the time was now come for them to ask for a defined line. They had resolved that meetings should be held at Wangaratta, Chiltern, and Beechworth alternately, so as to bring the consideration of the question within reach of equal numbers in the different localities. The time was now come to establish an organisation on a wider basis, and that was the object of their assembling there that day. They held, and hold still, that the public bodies were the ones to start the movement, as it was, as far as possible, the duty of such bodies to obtain means of communication, and if they did not do so they would be lax in doing what they ought to do. At the same time, the public bodies had no desire to appropriate the whole of the honour or the burden, as they knew very well that every one was alike interested in the matter, and that they all would go in, as the conference had done, to help each other in obtaining railway communication. A large section of the community wished the grand object to be carried out without dissension; that old differences should be avoided, that bygones should be bygones, and that they should all as one man continue to obtain what was of so much importance to tho district. He was sure that this was what they all had already done, whether in the league or in the conference; but they not only ought to do this, but they must do it at once, otherwise half the interests in the district would be ruined before the railway was carried out.
Mr D H EVANS said he had much pleasure in addressing a meeting of so many gentlemen capable of understanding and representing the wants of the district. It was a still greater pleasure to see them prepared to do a certain amount of work; but it would, he thought, greatly facilitate matters if the delegates were allowed a short time to pre- pare themselves for the public meeting, so that separate resolutions might be brought before them. He would move, therefore, that the meeting adjourn for a quarter of an hour in older that the delegates might adopt some plan for their future conduct.
Mr WITT wished to ask whether there was any report from the Railway League, because as tho conference had also brought one up, it was better, perhaps, that they both should now die out.
Mr J K BROWN said it did not follow at all that because the conference should die out the league ought to die out also. If there were certain gentlemen there from Beechworth influenced by motives of their own, that was no reason why they should be told that the existing organisation should be put down. The league had held out the olive branch of peace to the Beechworth people without effect; but they had sought and obtained the co-operation of men of influence throughout every part of the district. In nothing had the league wantonly or needlessly interfered with anybody. When it was formed the time had come for fresh action, as the functions of the conference had ceased. The simple history of the matter was, that the conference should have died out five months ago. Why was it that that body should now endeavour to throw overboard the very effects of their own labours? When the league was formed, and not at present, was tho time when the conference should have ceased to exist.
The CHAIRMAN.-What the meeting had to consider was not whether the Railway League should or should not also cease to exist, but what they were to do to procure railway communication.
Mr WITT thought that no gentleman there, should review the conduct of the conference or indulge in personal recriminations. If Mr Brown was permitted to go on, he (Mr Mott) should certainly claim the right to reply.
The CHAIRMAN.-The question before the meeting was not whether the Railway League should cease to exist or not. They had nothing whatever to do with that body; and if the league said it would not cease to exist, that was an end of the matter.
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