EAST COAST RAIWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1704, 21 March 1906, Page 3

EAST COAST RAIWAY.

DEPUTATION TO MR HALL* JONES. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, iaat Digbt. In reply to a deputation on railway matters the Hon. Hall-Jones stated that there were 150 workei'3 on the Southorn end of the Gisborne railway, and good progress was being made to the Motu; beyond that they had a difficult piece of work. He had also proposals for a line connecting Gisborne, Te Puke and Tauranga with Rotorua or Mamaka. He pointed out that there was danger of the East Coast line taking traffic off the main line by cargo being shipped by water to Tauranga, and then carried a shorter distance over rail. The Coastal line would, of course, only take traffic from one side A great deal had to be done before the line from Gisborne to Tauranga could be got through. He believed, owing to difficulties, it would take a good many years. The main trunk line was doing very well last October. He-obtained authority to finish the line, and since that time no opportunity had been lost, and they were going to carry that line on as rapidly as possible to a finish. He hoped that before three years’ time passengers would be travelling through to Wellington by rail. There were now on the works, including contractors and employees, some 2000 men. He was disappointed to find that he could not obtain sufficient men for work, though he was pleased to think that the colony was so prosperous ; harvesting would shortly be over and then he would probably be able to get the men required.

AGITATION IN AUCKLAND STILL CONTINUES.

MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS TO VISIT EAST COAST.

'(Special to Times..) Auckland, last n’ght.

Tho Auckland Herald in its loader today states tho ncto of cmgratulation whioh marked the proceedings at the interview between the deputation from the Auckland Railways Ltaguo and the Mioiatjr for Public Works is in pleasing contrast to tho tone that has usua'ly charactisod those meetings in the past. Instead of having te complain of unfulfilled promises and Ministerial neglect tf Auckland’s authorised railway work?, tl 8 L.-aguo through its deputy chairman, Mr Tewsley, expressed its gratification at the great progross which is now beiog made and tho activity displayed by the Public Works Department. It is not necessary to speculate as to the oauses which have brought about this eminently satisfactory stale of things, the igh doubtless the vigorous agitation so ably carried on by the League has been mainly instrumental in effecting the cbaDge, It is enough to know that Ministers now reoogniso the necessity for pushing on these works with greater energy, and are endeavouring as far as possible to make up leeway lost iu the post, Mr Hall-Jones in his reply to the deputation desoribod it as one of tho most pleasing he had evor reeeived in Auckland. We hope it hoa convinood him that the Lrngue is not ungrateful, aod that while it can be severely critical when the ocoasion calls for it, it also knows how to appr&oiato

tho sollons of tho Government when they inon6 recognition. Tho oonstruotlan of iho Main'Trunk lipo id being carried on with tho ovidont determination of bringing it to a completion within tho timo specified. To this end a botoh of navvies is apparently being spooially importod from the Mothor Country, though wo doubt tho expedionoy of this polioy in view of tho largo supply of native labor available in tho colony. Over 800 mon are now engaged on tho north of Auckland line, whioh tho Minister said must go on to Maungaturoto, though its prosont objootivo is Wayby. Ivoforenoe was also mado by several members of tho deputation to tho pressing importonoo of oonnootiog Auoklr.nd with tho fortilo East Coast and Gisbomo by moans of railways, and (o tho dosirabloness of starling work at tho northern end of tbo Oagaruo-Stra'ford seotion. Tbo Minister showod himself in oomploto sympathy with tho first-namod proposal, and from tho nature of his romarks, and tho fact that ho intends to visit tho East Coast beforo his roturn to Wellington, wo are just fiod. wo hepo, in believing that this urgent and nooossary work will bo under taken in earnest by tho Government. Tho lino to Gisborno would open up a large i tract of rich country, which would speedily J become olosely settled, and greatly in oroaso tho trade of Auokland, while oon-

neoting with Opotiki, Tauranga, aad Ivatikati, would oootributo enormously to the progress and prosperity of the whole of the East Coast.