THE MIDDLE EAST COAST RAILWAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1830, 16 August 1913, Page 7

THE MIDDLE EAST COAST RAILWAY.

WHAT THE SETTLERS' WANT.

Sir,—Knowing that Tub Dominion has established a numo for its rational treatment of national questions, and on that account most likely to bo read by thoso who are responsible for public expenditure. For this reason it is ivith some confidence I would ask yon to insert these few lines in support of the claims for railway extension, of one of the most fertile districts, but also one of the most isolated in tho Dominion. .1 refer to that part of the east coast between Te Puke and Opotiki. Owing to the means Of access being uncertain, and not quite uj) to date, to a great many people this is an unknown land. It contains, however, a large extent of what i 3 really ideal farming country. Blessed with a splendid climate, abundance. of waiter, containing thousands of acres of rich country, suitable for dairying, fattening, and agricultural purposes. A largo area of oven tho best land hail not been developed, due to a great extent to uncertain shipping facilities, and to an utlar lack of railway communication. In tho Knngitaiki there are over 80,000 acres of lint country, the capabilities of which, I believe, even tho settlers hardly realise. After the,present extensive draining scheme is completed, this swamp is certain to be subdivided into smaller farms, and "ill thoa bo ftn immense feeder to the railway.

Now, sir, in tho dnys that arc gone (we hope) tho spoils went to the noisiest, or, shall we say, tho most influential. We aro in hopes, however, that a new era has set in. An era in which justice will overbalance grab and And when railway construction is in question, tho opinion of tho settler living in the propositi railway district will l,e taken In preference to the man in tho city a hundred miles away. Well, sir, the settlers between To I'uke and Opotiki, uu voiced by the dill'crcnt associations, aro without exception unanimous in asking for a continuance of railway construction between To I'uko and Opotiki. This line, we believe, will meet the requirements of tho most fertile part of ilu< Bay of Plenty, and will bo remunerative from the start, an absolute necessity in ihese days of dear money. Following the proposed route of railway, it is comparatively easy going, and wolild not bo a. costly lino to inako. It would run through fertile land practically the whole way. Tapping, as it also would, the Urewera, wliero the lato Government aro supposed to have made large purchases, and which consists of that class of land of which' there is an unlimited demand, but no supply. A magnificent block of 1000 square miles of solid, healthy bush country. I think, eir, yoti will ogreo with mo in stating that the proposition is a reasonable one, anil if carried out would only bo doing long delayed justice to a fruitful but long-neglected part of the Dominion.

Wo hone a sum proportionate to our needs will be placed on the Estimates this session—l am, etc., A. WAIMANAV