GISBORNE ROTORUA RAILWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2065, 17 December 1907, Page 2

GISBORNE ROTORUA RAILWAY.

A DEVIATION SUGGESTED. POWERFUL INFLUENCES SAID TO BE AT WORK. Mr. iW. J. P. Gaudin, secretary of the East Coast Railway League, has received the following letter from the secretary of the Bay of Pilenty Railway League:— “I am directed by the Executive Committee of the Bay of Plenty League to draw your attention to the powerful influences at work to secure a deviation of the route of the proposed East Coast railway, from Rakauroa. through the Tahora block to Rotorua. In view of the possibility that the efforts being made to secure this deviation should prove successful, I am directed by my committee to urge upon you the necessity for making strenuous efforts to induce the Government to pledge themselves to the construction of the Gisborne-Motu-Opotiki line of railway. “If the line were taken via Tahora it would altogether miss Motu and pass through the back country far from Opotiki, through country remote from settlement and very steep and poor in quality. This line was condemned by Mr. Stewart after a trial- survey, and subsequent surveys have failed to find a practicable route.

“On tho other hand, the proposed lino through Motu and Opotiki would pass for the whole distance through settled country of good quality, and would prove of the highest value in developing a large tract of country, tho greater part of which has been taken up under the Government settlement conditions. Large quantities of valuable milling timber would bo rendered available for export, and the lino itself would prove of. incalculable benefit to Gisborne aud Auckland, as well as to all the settlements en route, and woulld serve as a useful feeder to the present lines of Government railways. Two satisfactory routes are available through the Motu to Opotiki, neither of which offers any serious engineering difficulties. •

“Through the whole of the districts that would be tapped by the proposed line, large areas of bush are being felled and grassed each year, and very shortly large numbers of stock will be carried on this country.

“In view of these facts, tho Executive Committee of the League trusts that you will use all the influence at your command to have this lino authorised, and press for its speedy construction. After the Main Trunk Line there is no lino in the Dominion that has stronger claims on the Government, or that offers such prospects of a satisfactory return on the cost of construction.”

Air. Townley, chairman of the East Coast League, when seen by a “Times” representative yesterday, said that he knew that efforts were being made to secure the Taliora connection with the railway route, but lie did not think that anyone desired to deviate from Alotu to Taliora. The route is fixed as far as Rakauroa iii accordance with the elevation and tho topography of tlio country. So far as he was aware, there was no intention of changing the route, but some of the Taliora settlers were very anxious to be connected with tlio railway by a branch line. The letter would be discussed at a meeting, to be held shortly. He quite agreed with tho necessity of urging the claims of tho line, and the value it would be to the East Coast district, and it should be pushed oil. It was very necessary to liavo communication with AYaikaremoana and Rotorua. Air. Gaudin' stated that so. far as the policy of the East Coast Railway League was concerned, their main desire was to get to Alotu and Opotiki, but it. was not concerned with what direction tho line took from Opotiki to Auckland, or as to whether it went to Rotorua or AA’ailii. They fully recognised the value of the timber resources between Gisborne and Alotu, and they also recognised that the Government had been doing its hest in connection witli the line. Until the Alain Trunk Line was finislied, a very heavy vote coulu not be expected towards this line, but after the completion of 'the Alain Trunk, the East,'Coast railway should be the main work of the Dominion, and the East Coast League had tho support

of the whole of tho Northern members, Opposition or otherwise. All saw that tho completion of the line to Gisborne would do more towards the progress of Auckland than even the Main Trunk line itself. Tho ' main object of the League was to tap tho Motu and reach the timber, which is there in great quantities. It was a pity that some efforts could not be made to compulsorily take over tho remaining lands lietween Motu and Opotiki, a distance,of.sixty miles. These lands were now selling at from 10s to 35s per acre, and there would ho a tremendous increase in value which properly belonged to the people. , As to any powerful influences at work to secure the deviation of the route, ho was not aware of them. EXTENSION BEYOND PUHA. ANOTHER SECTION READY FOR TRAFFIC. From inquiries made, it appears that there is now a section of the lino beyond Buha which should bo opened for traffic. The rails are laid for a distance of three miles beyond Puha, and when this is ballasted there is no reason why the line should not ho opened for public use. The ballasting should be taken in hand at once. Since the line progressed t-o Puha, a great quantity of wool had been sent down, and with further extension the traffic would still further leap ahead. AVith the two miles from Te Karaka to Puha, the increase in the traffic was greater in proportion than for the other sections. AVhen this matter was referred to Mr; Townley, he said that if the extra section was opened up, it would allow Rakauroa people to come to Gisborne and return the same day. Mr. Gaudin said tlfat the contractors for the bridges were anxious to push the work on. The fact that the Government had onfly given them ten months showed that they were in earnest in their efforts to hasten the progress of the line. i