STRATFORD BRANCH LINE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 849, 22 June 1910, Page 5

STRATFORD BRANCH LINE.

TE AVERA SECTION OPENED. (By TelesraDb-Preiss Association.) New-Plymouth, June 21. The opening of the Te AVera section of the Stratford-Ongaruo railway line took place on Monday, the Hon. T. Mackenzie officiating. The Minister stated that ,'tliTs section of the. railway would ultimately join up the Taranaki railway system with the Main Trunk line. It commenced at Huiroa Station and ended at Tel AVera, 22 miles 65 chains from Stratford. The length of the section was, therefore, just short of seven miles. For the first half of the, distance there were no particular engineering difficulties, but from Kioro Station onward construction _ was -heavy, consisting of ' heavy cuttings, large banks on somewhat swampy land, and a tunnel eleven chains long through the Mohakau Saddle. _ The country traversed by the section had been settled for many years, but up to the present tho means of access and outlet for produce, especially in the winter, ■ had been a drawback to the prosperity of the settlers. \ Beyond the terminus of the section, tho opening of which they wcro celobrating, construction work was in progress over a distance of about 12 miles. Tho work included a tunnel through the Pohukura range about 13 chains in length. The country ahead was exceptionally fertile, and the coming of the railway (said Mr. Mackenzie) would doubtless give a stimulus to the efforts of tho settlers who had persevered in the face of difficulties for many years. The section now' opened hud cost for construction, buildings, and permanent way in round figures £90,000 for the seven miles.' The total cost of the line to date was £285,000. At present tho number of men employed on tho line was '182. . i _ , In the evening Jlr. Mackenzie was banqueted by tnc settlers. The Minister spoke for two hours, and with such offect that his auditors, judging by their manifestations of appreciation and enthusiasm, would gladly have listened to him for a further two hours. It was generally accounted the best political speech that had been heard in recent years in Taranaki, and created a deep and favourable impression. [AA'e publish the above telegram as received. Tho enthusiasm of ,the reporter at the end of a two hours' banquet speech is indeed a remarkable trihuto to the oratorical' powers of our very eloquent Minister.]