RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. AUCKLANDERS PUT IN A CLAIM

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2284, 1 September 1908, Page 3

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. AUCKLANDERS PUT IN A CLAIM

tiIS.UOLINE LINE PROMINENT IN DISCUSSION. [Punas Association.] WELLINGTON, August 31. A deputation comprising AucklumJ mombors of Parliament ami about 20 representatives of local interests in tho Auckland district, waited on the Minister of Public Works (tho Hon. W. Hall-Jones) to-day, urging tho speedy construction of tho North Aucklnnd-Ongaruru, Stratford, and Auckland-Gisborno railway lines. They asked for a vote of LIOO,OOO to extend tho Helensvillo northward lino to Maungaturoto, and a vote for further surveys. The Gisborne and East Const lino was put forward ns a 'national work, and tho deputation favored a route via Opotiki, Whnkatnuo, Tnuvanga, Wailii, and Paeroa to Auckland, which would tap tho groat Pinko swamp land. In reply, tho Minister said tlio deputation had mentioned two separato linos. 110 agreed that a "rent deal of work remained to bo dono in tho Auckland province. Tho most important work urged was the North Auckland Main Trunk, but when tho deputation asked for £IOO,OOO ho would remind them that tlio North Island Main Trunk lino was not yet completed. As to the extension to Maungaturoto tho Government could increaso tho number of men located on tho lino now if they were available. There would bo a voto for that lino which would satisfy him (tho Minister) though it would probably not satisfy tho deputation. Ho hoped to see a larger voto for tho Gisborno lino, but exhaustive surveys as to tlio best route had yot to bo made. As soon as an officer was available bo would have a trial survey mado of tho Kawia lino. Nothing could bo dono regarding tho Stratford-Ongaruru lino till the surveyors’ report on it was available. The Whangaroi-Kuwaka-wa line should bo pushed on, also the northern surveys. Mr. Hali-Jonos took occasion to deny that tho railway fares in New Zealand wor© liighor than those in tho Commonwealth, and- quotod figures in support of his argument.

(Special to “Times.”)

WELLINGTON,. August 31. When tlio deputation waited on the Minister for Public Works today, Mr. Poacocke after reference to tho northern Auckland lines, said there was also the East Coast railway, which was of as much importance_,as the north of Auckland lino. Thege lines, ho urgod, were of Importance not only to Auckland but to the Dominion as a whole. They were, in fact, national works. Ho was aware that nearly every member of the House was also urging the claims of some little pedlington railway as a national work, but lie claimed that the lines ho had just referred to were really national works, which would assist genuine settlement anu pay from their initiation. He asked that at least £IOO,OOO should be allocated this year for the north of Auckland line, and also that provision be made for pushing on the working surveys beyond Maungauturoto to the northmost point of the authorised line. In connection with tho East Coast line, he said that as an alternative to tlio Waihi-Katikati and Tauranga route it had been suggested that the line should g 0 by . way o 7 Mamaltu ami To Puke. This, however, would leave out a number of important districts, and also involve a heavy annual charge for hauling over tho steep grade from To Puke to Mamaku. He referred also to the proposed short cut from Paeroa to I’okeru as an essential part of the East Coast connection.

Mr. Andrew -Bell, Auckland, urged that the Government should raise a special loan of a million for the East Coast railway, spread over three years, and earmark it so that it should not be divorted to other purposes, such a 6 the snagging of rivers or the purchase of Native lands. Mr., Hall-Jones ...(laughing) : • You ought to be Minister for Public Works.

Mr. Bell thought that an annual expenditure of £330,000 for three years would ensure the prosecution of tfio line at a satisfactory rate. Mr. Hall-Jones: A million would not do it.

Air. Bell: A million would go a long way, and I do riot think there would be any difficulty in raising the balance when tho million was expended. Captain Tucker urged the importance of the forwarding of the Gisborne railway connection by way of Rotorua. Gisborne particularly desired to be connected with Rotorua on account of the tourist traffic which was constantly passing to and from the latter place. He said the portion of the lino already constructed at the Gisborne end was showing better returns each month, and tne greatest possible expenditure should be used in pushing on the line to a more payable point. Tho Hon. Air. Carroll made special reference to the short section of tho East Coast, line between Opotiki and Ohiwa. There ivaSj he slid, a had bar harbor at Opotiki, but there was a good harbor at Ohiwa. Ho asked that the line should he at once constructed between the two places. It would then be available for immediate use, and would afterwards form part of the permanent line. Air. Neweth, in speaking on behalf of AVaihi, dealt precisely with the benefit that that town would dcrivo from railway connection with the largo timber areas along tho route of the East Coast line.

Air. Foster, in referring to Captain Tucker’s remarks, expressed the view that the interests of settlement -were of riiore importance than the tourist traffic. He thought, however, that it was generally understood which way the line was likely to go. Air. Hogg said that the East Coast railway would give access to 760,060 acres- of timber lands in the Urewa country, whilst on the other side there were 400,000 acres also of excellent milling timber. During tho course of his* reply tho Alinister made special reference to the East Coast line. The trial survey, ho said, would be run from Waihi to beyond Katataka, and they were now working in towards Tauranga. A trial line was also being run from Alamaku to To Puke, and the trial line between Paeroa and Pokeno was nearly completed. At the Gisborne end lie was prepared to further incroaso the number of men, and the vote would be larger than in previous years. As to the request for file immediate* construction of tlio Ohiwa section, ho did not think that would be wise. They had at present no fewer than eleven small detached lines in tho Dominion, with the resulting inconvenience in working. He wanted to see tho Whaugarei-Kawa-kawa connection got out of hand and to push along the North of Auckland line as expeditiously as possible. Reverting to tho East Coast line, lie said that a great deal of information bad to be obtained in regard to the best route to be followed, and lie did not wisli to rush the question. He did not think that ho could hold out any promise that the work would he put in hand this year. The surveys, however, would he proceeded with. There was a survey party working from Gisborne towards Opotiki, and a trial lino had been run nearly to Motu. There was some very difficult woric betwen ATotu and Opotiki. The engineering difficulties there were thought some years ago to be almost insuperable. A fairly good track bad now been found, but tho section would still be an expensive piece of work. He looked forward to the time when the East Coast line would bo proceeded with from both ends, but he was doubtful whether the data at his disposal would enable this to be cjone this year.