RAILWAY LINES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 25, 24 October 1919, Page 7

RAILWAY LINES

AN AUTHORISATION BILL PLIMMERTON DEVIATION

OPENING DP STATE COAL AREAS

A Railways Authorisation Bill was introduced in the House of ln=t nteht. The Bill aulhprises the Government to proceed with the following lines :— 1. North Auckland Main Trunk—An extension of the authorised line from the left hank of the Wairoa River in Block VTT. Mniintmtn Survey Di-lrict, to a connection with (he pxistins li"e n"nr Nganulii. Le)i<?th about 39 miles. 2. North Maud Main Trunk—A branch line from o(onilian<?a almuj the right baijk of tho Waipa "River to tho south, boundary of BWk VI, Maiuaoronga Survey District. Length about 71 miles. 3. North Mand Mai" Trunk.-A deviation between Plimmerton and Pael'.ika.riki, via Terewarowa Point. ■ Length about nine miles. 4. Fvl C'-ast H»iu Tnmk.-A branch linn from Wairoa to Waikokopu. Lonoth about 2i! miles. !i. T" Uoti-Onuiinke.—An extension of ' the authorised line from Opunake to a con"eetion w'th the Pxistit'? lii" at. Moturoa. Length about 35 miles.' 6. Midland.—A deviation at Snrinpfipld alontr the north-eastern side of th» existing lino bo(;wo<»i 29 mil".' 10 chain-; and 31 miles 3 chains. Len.<rth about 1 im'lp 74 chains. 7. Greymouth.Point Elizabeth.—An extension of tho exiiti"" line from a noint about 3 miles 4"> chains.from Greymonth for about 2 miles 50 chains in a norlhprlv direction. 8. North Auckland Main Trunk.-A branch lino to connect with the TCaihn Vallev railway, commencing in Block VII. Mnun.«aru Survey District end tcmina'''"? in tlip town of Dargaville. Length about 14 miles. " ' 9. North .Auckland Main Trunk—A deviation of the auV'oriseri line to the westward from 117 miles 14 chains to 121 miles 15 chains. 10. Waikokowni Branch.—A branch line from the Hnntlv-Awaroa railway in Block XV to Section 115. Block XIII. Baugiriri Survev District. Length about seven miles. Sir Joscrdi -Wnrd (Leader of tho Opwisition) asked what votes were being taken for new railways, and what was the total amount of the proposed railway expenditure. Mr. G. Witty (Eicenrton): Why are not lines already authorised finished hefore wo authorise any more? Sir William Eraser said that only one important new line was being authorised. That was tho line from Wairoa, to Waikokopu. This work was a matter of urgency. Wairoa Ilnrbour. where the.ro were valuable freezing works, had become useless, and an outlet bad to ho provided at Waikokolm, which was tho best natural harbour on the East Coast. Nobody would obiect to the proposed extension of the North Auckland Trunk line. A short branch lino from Otorohnnga, on the North.lsland Main Trunk, was required to bring out road metal from a <?ood supply. The deviation between Plimmerton and Paekakariki was being authorised, after ca,reful investigation, in order to nettle the question of -route. He did not intend to spend much money on the deviation this vear. The proposed extension of the Grey-moiith-Point Elizabeth line was required to give access to a coal field acquired bv tho Stale Coal Mines Department. The Waikokowai branch would give across to a State, coal mine area near Hunt-