RAILWAY ROUTES

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1415, 28 March 1905, Page 2

RAILWAY ROUTES

LIKELY DIRECTION FROM TE KARAKA.

“ Has anything been decided as to the route ? ” asked Mr Gray at the Railway League meeting yesterday, after the question of the ceremony at Te Karaka had been dealt with. The Hon. J. Carroll, to whom the question was practically put, said he assumed the route would be through Waikohu, and along the back road to Motu. Mr Lysnar said that would mean leaving Whatatutu out. It was most important that that should bo connected. Mr Carroll said he thought engineering difficulties would be raised. “ It is all a straight run to Whatatutu,” said Mr Lysnar. Mr Carroll said it might be all right to Whatatutu, but beyond that engineering difficulties would occur. Mr Lysnar : No more than by the other route. Mr Carroll said by that route there was no tunnelling required or expensive bridges as by the Mangatu route. Mr Lysnar : If the lino goes that way there must be immediate agitation for a line to conneot Whatatutu, where there is the profitable traffic. There is a considerable population out that way already, and over 5000 bales of wool are coming from there per year. How is that to be got out ? The Mayor : It would have to be oarted to Karaka. Mr Lysnar: It is quite as important as going to the Motu for making the line profitable. The Mayor said going to the Motu by the back road meant tapping the timber they were seeking. Mr Lysnar said they were both of great importance. But he thought if the main line went through Waikohu there should at least bo a branch line to tap the valu able resources in the direction of Whata tutu

Mr DeLautour : It all comes back to he Premier’s suggestion that the Karaka should bo used as a pivot. Mr Lysnar : To Whatatutu it must get. Mr Matthews said there would be all the Williams’ and othor largo properties producing wool. Mr Carroll said he thought the connection would bo by an inland Waiapu line, I junctioniug at Te Karaka. The Mayor : The County Council are | considering that now. MrKysnar: Whatatutu oilers the most natural route for making that connection. Mr Carroll'said a cheaper lino might run through,Mangapoike and tap Wairoa. It was a big question. Their aim, it seemed to Him, should bo to get inexpensive linos to largely take the place of the roads. The Mayor raised the subject of electrical traction, sayiDg that in a district whero thero was no coal and fuel was expensive, and water power available, something might be done in the utilising of it. Mr Carroll said that required electrical experts to decide, but the sooner the iron horse took the placß of the ordinary roads the better. That involved the question as to what share the district was prepared to bear,

Mr Xiysnnr said i£ the Government allowed them a fair share of what they contributed to the revenue they would ha satisfied.

I Mr Carroll said many of the districts I considered they were worse off, and were I prepared to bring in bills for ageß past to show what they had done. Mr Lysnar : How many years-ago was the firs Mod turned ? The Mayor : Five. Mr Bees : If weJbave not got very far we have got on safely.;..:'; I Mr Carroll : Much quicker than some I predicted. I Mr Eees : And it is turning out better i 9ba» some said it would,