Agricultural and Commercial Society. 89 
might become the emporium of commerce for South 
American countries who would bring their produce to 
our boundary along their magnificent rivers. 
Mr. Hargreaves remarked that for years past there 
had been a gigantic scheme before the United States 
Government, to run a railway down the centre of South 
America. If, however, that railway ran on the west 
side of the Andes there would be insuperable difficulties 
in the way of making a communication with that 
railway by means of a railway from the Coast. 
The President replied that it would hardly be possible 
to put the scheme referred to into practice, until the 
whole of the Spanish Kepublics ceased having revolu- 
tions. Continuing, Mr. Hill expressed his pleasure that 
his paper had evoked discussion, and that it should 
have brought back *' a lost sheep to the fold " in 
the person of Mr. Dorman whom lie welcomed back to 
the Society. With regard to the narrow gauge spoken 
of by Mr. Dorman, that gauge was to be found for the 
most part in Ireland, and he would be sorry to take 
Ireland as an example in respect of railway administra- 
tion. The narrow gauge had been promoted by tlie 
baronial gfuarantees in the different counties on the 
Congested Districts Board as the chief means of getting 
the existing standard gauge railways to take them up 
and leave them as feeders to their own railways. 
A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Dorman. 
Mr. Dorman and others having spoken on the subject, 
the meeting then terminated. 
