THE WAIRARAPA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1766, 3 June 1913, Page 6

THE WAIRARAPA.

PROPOSED RAILWAY SCHEMES. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OPINION. At the council meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce yesterday, the report of tho delegates of tho chamber who recently accompanied the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. W. Fraper, on his tour of tho Wairarapa, was received. Tho chamber's delegates wero tho president, Mr. A. E. Mabin, and Mr. juiues Macintosh. After covering detail matters, the report concluded:— " lour delegates were very much impressed with, tho country inspected by tliem in the Makuri, Pongaroa, Alfredton; and Whareama districts, Pongaroa, winch may be considered in tho centre of the district which would bo opened up by any of the proposed railway routes, particularly calls for attention. Pongaroa township is 40 miles from either Pahiatua or Eketahuna, over hilly country. The land has been clcared of bush and has been developed up to a point, but want of good communication is hindering the district from producing anything like what it is capable of doing, considering tho fertility of tho soil and the lino climate.. If this large area of country could bo made to send to this port what it is capable of producing, a great impetus would be given to tlio trade of this city. We consider tho chamber should lend its aid to any scheme having this and the general development of the Wairarapa in view. There are several schemes proposed:—(l) Lateral lines from the present line to various points east; (2) loop line, Masterton to Waipukurauj (3j new line. Lower Hutt via Wainui-o-n.ata to Pirinoa, thence to Waipukurau; (1) good roads and motor wagon services to the present line. Your delegates are not prepared to express an opinion on the merits of tho various schemes, but suggest that the proposed visit of the Minister for Public Works and tho Engineer-in-Cliief should be made as early as possible, and following this ; that a commission be appointed to examine and report upon, tho various schemes. Assuming that a railway is authorised, as soma time must necessarily clapso before it can be completed, the local bodies, with tho assistance of the Government, should oomplete thie metalling of tho'main roads within their respective districts, and these should be made fit for all classes of traffic, so that private enterprise for tlie time being could dCaL with the traffic—particularly between Pahiatua and Pongaroa; ajld Eketahuna and Pongaroa. Tno construction of roads generally should, your delegates tlsink, not wait until the completion of a railway, but should be pressed forward immediately. When a railway is oompleted they will act as feeders to the line, but iia the menntimo they will go far to assist the development of tho district. ' , , "As to the deviation over the Rimutaka, this very necessary work should not be delayed any longer. The working expenses of the incline axe estimated to amount to .£20,000 per annum, and this would pay the interest on a capital of .£400,000. The further development of the Wairarapa must compel the Government to improve this portion of the lino sooner or later, but the chamber should join -.with, the Wairarapa in urging the early undertaking of the work.' Mr. Mabin had nothing to add to the report, but said there was no doubt the country they saw was an "eye-opener.' Tho bush had been cleared, and tho country was good slieep and cattle land, but was retarded by the lack of railway facilities. . • Mr. Macintosh considered that the Rimutaka deviation matter should _be settled at once. One of tho great hindrances to the Wairarapa was the Rimutaka, and it should not be a difficult task to decide on some scheme to mako an improvement. If the people at the Wairar rapa end and this end joined forces, they would be able to push tho matter on to a settlement. , ; , ~ , . The report was adopted, and til© dolegates thanked for tlieir labour. .