THE OVERLAND TRIR

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2127, 9 July 1907, Page 1

THE OVERLAND TRIR

GOOD UKOGKKSS AND COUNTRY. The parly of Auckland members, including Messrs. Messey. Rang. Ividd Mander Greonslade, Poole and Poland arrived at Wellington on June 26th after their overland trip, via the Main Trunk railway route. Auckland was left on June 24th. Taumarunui being reached that night, and on June 26th at 6.50 a.m. a Public Works ballast train conveyed the party to the railhead at Rauri(jiu. After a - brisk v,'<dU over- the"frozen ground to where the spiral is in course of formation, the coach was hoarded lor Rangitawa. the southern railhead. Waiouru was the place of sojourn that night. Wellington being reached about 10 o’clock, a detention of about three hours being caused by u slip on the line pptjr Tiirgklpu. Air Massey expressed shortly after his arrival entire satisfaction with the trip, and what ’lie hail seen of the progress on route. Hr. Roueh, on-ginecr-ill-eha rge at tile north end. contributed greatly to the pleasure ol the trip by his courteotisness. Among other tilings inspected was the Alakatote viaduct, which is expected to be out of hand towards the end of tRc yeas. . . .

Speaking of the pace at which the work is proceeding Mr. .Massey expressed the opinion that the middle ol next year would see the completion of the rail work. The people oil the works estimated the gap that would be still unbridged by next March at something like six miles. “From what l can see of the general progress,” said Mr. Massey, “tin, only doubtful point about the completion of the ihie by the end of next year is the question of the viaducts. The work is. in fact, going on at a pace that must ho distincly satisfactory to everyone.” As to the country along the route of the line, he was enthusiastic, and considered that both tmjrist and settler will be on the scene in big numbers. They saw no sign of the desert which they were, warned of as wlmf to expect along the route, the poorest country being the Waimarino Plains, tlie land even there being good sheep country, . while tin* hush land, when cleared, would he some of the best. As to the Waimarina forest several of the party expressed the opinion that there was timber on it to supply the colony for a generation. Air. Alassey modestly computed it at hundreds of millions of feet.