EAST COAST RAILWAY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 510, 18 May 1909, Page 3

EAST COAST RAILWAY.

THE 'ROUTE. .' ". (0* TIDEGBAI'U—rUESS . Thames, May 15. A meeting of delegates, representing local bodies of Waihi, Ohinemuri, and Thames county and borough, decided to strongly support the construction of the East Coast Railway from Waihi to Tauranga, Opotiki, and Gisborne. It was', claimed that this route would traverse tho most reproductive districts, and that tho lino would bo a payable proposition. It is proposed also that the lino should eventually extend across the Hauraki Plains to Pokeno, and connect with the Auckland main line at the other point.' A DEPUTATION; ; {BTTEI.BQIIArH.—SI'ECUL CORHESrONDENT.) 1 > Napier, May 17. ; A deputation from tho East Coast Railway Leaguo waited on the Hon. R. M'Kenzie, MinisterJor Public Works, this afternoon. Mr. 0. A./ Baxter, president of the league, said it ! was dmost needless to speak of the great necessity of this railway. Between Napier and Gisborne there were between 200,000 acres of Crown land and 300,000 acres of Native land practically unoccupied. - The railway -would be the only means of settling this ■'< country. - and tho aspiration of Napier was to-see the line constructed. • • : Mr. C. EUison referred to the isoktion of the- East Coast, and mentioned a statement said'to' have been made by Mr. M'Kenzio to the effect that the railway should be constructed from the Gisborne end. He pointed out that the material for construction could be, more easily handled from Napier. _ Sir Williain, Russell said there was no de-' sire;to dictate, to the Government the rouet that the railway. should take, but there was a feeling that there had been studied neglect of this part of tho North Island. The only part, of the Dominion that had'not-benelitod by public expenditure for the last 20 years was to the north of Napjor and south of: Gisborne. Here development could not be carried out for want of access, and there was no. part -of the country so insufficiently roaded. The railway would pay, and the people were erie-rgetio, and'there was no better method of removing that incubus, the Native land owner, than by this method. Mr. A. L. D. Fraser, ex-membor for Napier said the Native bogy was not the; difficulty Eome people thought it was, and it could be overcome. ■•-.-. Messrs. J. Yigor Brown, M.P., A. Dillon, M.P., and Milkr CUayor of Hastinge) also spoke. 1 ''. ■ . - '.' . ■ .'■ :•' "' : , ■'. Mr.'M'Kenzie, in reply, expressed his plpasure in meeting the deputation, but said' that many questions had to be considered in! connection with the East Coast railway. The Government'liad to look att-he fact that sev-'. oral railways were ' urgently needed. Hβ pointed out that the reason why the North Island was not better supplied with railways was. because until quite recently, owing to Maori troubles, it-was .impossible' 'to construct-, them. . There were-only 20 miles-of the trial. survey '.. of. the. East Coast : railway' to',bo concluded, and he thought -lie coulfl 'say that would bo done. ",Ho ;adyascd. the deputation to endeavour;to get Parliament to authoriso';the railway. Ho was one 'of those who believed' that a ; railway from here *to Gisborne yould pay, but a railway ! to the' north, of Gisborne would pay bettor. He was assured of fhis because, he- had beenrover the country. .He.thought tho East Coast

railway would be tajcen in hand.in the cojirso of..a.fow years, and whether'it was from this'.OTd or the G-isborno end was imv material to'the Government. .Tho Minister explained -the position of tie Midland railway,, which: he said would pay handsomely when , completed; .He. thought that. tho : East Coast railway should bo commenced when .tho present lines in hand were completed. Tflo would then be pleased to support the views of tie deputation, and have'a portion'of tho; line , put m progress if it wore authorised by' Parliament. ■; ;;■,•.-;.■.■•:.,i ■;•.,:■ ;fl •...■,■■■.