NEW RIMUTAKA DEVIATION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 28, 28 October 1919, Page 5

NEW RIMUTAKA DEVIATION

THE BBST-EOUTi; AND WHY, (To the Editor.) Sir,—l see' that Mr. Coleman Phillips differs from me on some of the statements contained in any letter of October 1. Therefore .1 am writing again 60 that 1 may set him right on these points.

First, Mr. Phillips says that if ho proves me wrong on the Tauherenikau deviation lie firms' up the Wuinui. In hying to prove me wrong, he lias certainly proved mo right, lie says years age he advocated the Tuuherenikau route, and had teen in conversation with Mr. Beetlum, who had been over thin route. Mr. Phillips says that Mi. Beelhain recommended the Tauherenikau to him as 'being a very good one. Mr. Philips also says that express trains could not nin through the Tauherenikau. Will he pleaso explain tho leason why, and also why they could not run through at 30 or more uniles an hour, as tho curves, etc., will allow forl'ast travefh'ng? Tho grade is practically flat. Ho also Bays that by taking the line via Tauherenikau to "Woodside, I cut out Featherston. This I fully intended to do, letting Featherston he an the branch to Martinborough ond the Lownr Valley, which will be of more use to Featherston than tho main line. Mr. Phillips points out why I should leave Featherston out, and ho is quito right, as Featherston has always been the trouble in our deviation, as they always want the lino to run through their town whether it suits tho rest of the community or not. So we shall always suffer with sickness as iong as the train goes over that wtj.

Now, we will toko the Wainu'i r&utt, for which I quoted 40 miles, and Mr. Phillip-. 33 miles GO chains, and I still maintain that this is of no use to us, and as no self-respecting P.W.D. engineer would run n line along a narrow strip ot.'land between a Inrgo lake and a mountain range, no. matter how pretty tho scenery. Therefore I contend that this line cannot'bo less than 40 miles, .hs it must.cross;.the.lake and Mow it along the eastern 'side, crossing rivers etc., passing to' Mr. Bidwill's homestead, thence on, and passing closo beside My. Phillips's own old homestead at thle Knell, then taking a left anscle turn back to Featherston. This will, I think, bring the distance up to nearer 50 than 4fi Jnile3. This accounts for the difference in our distances. Tf Mr. Phillips would liko to know wha* the Wninui is like, ond how steep it is, he should try to climb it with a. 6Mb. theodolite on.his back, as I have done. I did not mention the. deviation 'between FVtoko and Upper Hntt, ns I took it for granted that Mr. Philips already knew of the line, and that there was a good line laid oil'-co:? with n good e-aiy grade, that passes 'iip through the Pnkauratahi flats, some mile or so away from the present station.

I am quite sure that once Mi\ Phillips understands the deviation frond Upper Hutt to Woodsido he will be a staunch supporter of t'.iis route. In the first, place, there is an easy grade from Upper II utl to'Kaitoke (the proposed stat.on about'2ooft. lower'than fho present station), the highest point, thence through tho Taulierenika.il Valley■ Mown hj:l) to Woodside, all good solid country, with good and easy curves. As for the water supply, let it come from Wainui—it is about all tho valley .ds fit for, and if the dam hurst a .few times it could not do much harm.i 1 would fikf. to say thai in discussing the deviation frail tlnpar Hull to Woodside with the tot* Mr. P. S. Iky. En-gineer-in-Chief P.W.D., he informal mo that the. lonte was very satisfactory indeed, but -'.s J!r. Phillips says, he is not going tn bs governed entirely by experts. I should be greatly interested to know what he intends doing, ns I may bo able to help him jet the best route in tho rountry put in, viz., the Tauherenikau. In Teplyin? to Mr. Phillips re mi'k snpr/'y, 1 still mainta'n th.it mill; could bt> landed in Wellington about IV hours from Woodside, via Ta-.iherenikau Valley. I think Mr. Phillips overlooks ths fact tJiat instead of cjtimbing over the top of the hills we are running through a succession of valleys with onJ!y a loir ridgo between them on grades of* 1 in 70 anil 1 in SO instead of 1 in 13 to 1 in la, as on the hill, I am quite aware of the fact that there is no dairy factory nt Woodside, but vn -niy letter of Oteober 1 1 distinctly stated that the milk eouJd ha drawn from the surrounding country. Why has Mr. Phillips got mixed on this point? Also tho milk comes from the dairy farmer, not the factory. Why docs Mr. Phillips object to the milk coming into Wellington by the Tauherenilcau deviation? I suggest that Mr. Phillips ad-.-ocate the dredging of a-channel right up the lalio to Pigeon Bush, and put in a wharf, etc.; this would to a, lot nearer home than Wniiganui, and it would not bo a very hard job to got 2flor SO feet of water in (he channel, and this would be a much better scheme than b's of taking the water out of the lake for Wellington. The city wants a high power pressure. How docs M\ Phillips propose getting this when tho Wairnrapa Lake 's on sea level? While on tho question of deviations, etc.,. why not_ put ths Tauherenikau in and make. Koitoke (m>w station) a junction far the Main Trunk? This could te done very easily. The line could go down the Palc.iuratahi Piver Valley, then follow up the Western Hull Piver, through a smr.i'l tunnel. it-*., flm Otaki Gorge, and junction citlip-- -t Otaki or Levin. This is a verv sh~-( route, and would do away wit'; t' vnr'a'stinj drag of the Pnekakihiki Ili'J. This deviation coubl .ils-o te made to act as e. connection tetween Wair.irapa and the west Vnust for rf.iil as well .-is rail, ard. what is morn, it is praetVallv Wei riirht throni-h Trusting von rip find spaco to insert these few Dinps.—T nm. etc., ONE WHO WAR ON Tin: SUIiVKY. Ocloter 2.1, 1910.