TIMBER LANDS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 27, 27 October 1920, Page 3

TIMBER LANDS

SAWMILLERS' PRIVATE RAILROAD

REQUEST FOR GOVERNMENT ACQUISITION

' The Royal Commission - appointed to inquire into the preaent position of the railway and timber rights owned by the Taupo Totara .Timber Company, Ltd., relative to proposals for the taking over ol the line by tho Government, was engaged yosto'rday in hearing further evidence. Mr. IT. J. H. Blow presided, ( nnd there were also .present: Messrs. F. W. Furkert, H. Buxton, and G. H. M. M'Cluro. ' , ..

Continuing his evidence, tho heariha of which was adjourned from the previous Tuesday, Mr. F. G. Dalziell. chairman 'of directors of tho company, stated that the proposed extension of the' line to Taupo would carry it for' throo-pnrU of the distance over Crown lands, and for the remaining portion of. the route over the company's property. The settlers in the district used tho line at present because they had no other - means of access. Tho line, however, did not meet the full" requirements of the settle™ and the district generally; the rolling stock was insnffievnt for the company, wliich netessnrily had to provide for-its own: wants first. .More making further . provision for the settlers, the company wished to ascertain whether tlifc Government intended to.have a. permanent line, as' its own timber cuttings would last ■ only about another 15 years. The company wished to-be quite cAir on this matter' before putting capital into .further rolling stock nnd improvements, as the line-at present was entered in the balance sheet as worth .fill!), 000. _ There was some comment by the chairman at this stage, Mr.-Blow remarking that if the timber would be exhanswa in 15 year*, the proposition to take, ovei the line was not a tempting one. A question whether the present traffic rates on the railroad were profitable was liol answered by Mr. Dalziell. •The' chairman: The local oettlen, aft calling out for lower rates. It woulo bo an answer to them to learn whethei the present rates" are remunerative. "Mr Ralziell enid that most of the goods traffic was sont-froni the Putavuru end Of tho line, and there was a. uniform rate over the railroad, which allowed no special Tebatw. Hj considered that i. the company owned the. who e of tht timber land at went available m the district surrounding the line, n, comprehensive settlers' traffic would be built up in a few. years. • , Tho chairman: Is there anything tc. prevent the - company acquiring mou witness said that although the land was open for'sale, the Government h«0 not taken steps to sell.. When all thi timber had been cut off, he thought dairv famine would tend to increase the settlement of the . district served by tht railroad, as tho pumice lands posneweo great mobilities. Until settlement increased. however, the extension of tl«. railroad as desi'ed would be a burden, although it would run through land « l Taupo quite as good, as any at Pmaniru. Evidence as. to cost of a deviation wak "iven -by Mr. C. J. M'Kennio, who estimated 'the expenditure »' £280,000. Allowing another XInO.OOO ioi alterations .to the lin*, made n total ol approximately .£400,000. This re, ferrcd to the narrowness-, of .the banks along the line, one width beinir onlr <. feet He did not think a 10ffc._ widtli was'sufficient.- although in his opinion i train could travel at a speed of e.ghi miles per hour over portions of>the line, including 11 chain curves. At this stage Mr. Dalziell explnmec. that the company-did not wish to ask aiiv concessions from the Government, but wished merely to obtain nctiial valu«j. as far as the railroad was concerned. It would not ask more than tlifc value of the line 'and the timber, nith the limitation that the, value was. not to exceed the capital, plus interest, that had been invested in the line. Hie company. as far as the line was concerned,) would deal -with present values. >• Relative to proposed alterations .to, tlifc line Mr 1? W. M'Leiin, chief enginfe". of tiie Railway Department, said he considered it would bp necessary to reliiit the curves, under the Government minimum. and cuttings and f would have-to:be enlarwl. The Depa.tment, he thonaht, would not insist on r, main' line standard, hut a secondary .lintstandard would lie necessary.No rai. should.lie less -than 5.-> b. weight to the vard. becauso the standard- rolling stock Would have'.to run. on that-track, am. som» of "tlio vehicles would be nwivy--, V would.be necesfiirv'-tn take out Mlb. wU and replace them with Ball). railf nhiU it would lie possible "to run rolling stock on the sharp curves referred to there would always be "the problem of transhipment of goods on arrival at a main line. He did not see why. witlrupccia. rolling stock, tho line could not be, iißen fo' 1 passenger and goods traffic. . The Commission will proceed on ite itinerary im.m'e<liately.