THE RIMUTAKA DEVIATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 282, 25 August 1919, Page 6

THE RIMUTAKA DEVIATION

ADVANTAGES OF THE WAINUI • ROUTE. Sir,—The letter from vour correspondent, Mr. Coleman Phillips, a few days ago provided much food for thought, and it 6oems a great pity that the citizens of Wellington are not more alivo to Ihcir ' own interests. The question of the devin« tion of tho Bimutaka Incline is <>su which sooner or later will affect the *' majority of the people not only of tiio Wairarapa, but the inhabitant of this side of the mountains also, Mr. Phillips has pointed o.ut the advantages which' would accrue by providing quick transit for milk and other perishable produce. • But, to mv mind, there would be an ad< ditional advantage by opening up the fia' country within easy reach of Wellington. ' I must confess that I find it very hard to follow the policy of Mr. Luke, tho Mayor of Wellington, in this connection. . The idea of taking the line over the ' Mungaroa is, to my mind, ridiculous. Just what is to be gained by taking a* railway over barren, mountainous country is very hard to see, more 'osj)ecto\y when, by the alternate route, via \\m-nui-o-Mata, the line would pass through flat, country. The land betwe»n Petone and the Wairnji Hill is perfectly flat and extensive enough to house tho s whole of the people of Wellington with much land to spare. A station could bu erected at the entrance to the tunnel which would serve a large population at a distance of nine miles from Wellington. j Within 1000 yards from the tuiw nel is the Hutt Eiver, with its unlimited supply of gravel for concreting purposes/ as with such a natural supply so handy .nn t engineer would use expensive brickwork for^tunnelling. A cneap inexpensive light railway is all that would bo required. At present the greater portion of the land is not'built upon, which could thereby bo bought cheaper. Thei question of the navigation of the mouth of the Hutt Eiver is one that could also be considered. It may N not be generjill:/ known, but very close to the river inqutit there is GO feet of water, with a blue clay bottom, deep enough to float H M.S. New-.Zealand. With a little drei i" the river could be deepened to allov. . vessels to reach the railway. This -■ •' to a large extent relieve the a' '1 congested railways in Wellington. • can the Mungaroa scheme compare vi. this? We have had one big plunder that monument.of political engineering the costly Rimutalca Incline, wi:h ... Fell engines, heavy wear and tear. < The line to Upper Hutt.. could still < tinue, and do good work as a subi;'. ■ .line. I think tliat thi3 is a matter t. - C should be taken up by the. business neor'.i? of Wellington, chambers of commcrce, etc. Thanking you in anticipat^n,—l am, etc., JOHN B U.L. Lower, Hutt.,