POKENO RAILWAY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4530, 21 February 1923, Page 2

POKENO RAILWAY.

SOMETHING TANGIBLE WANTED. NOTHING IN SIGHT. I Some discussion took place at last night’s Chamber of Commerce meeting as the outcome of a letter from the Auckland Railways and Development League, asking for co-operation in urging the immediate completion of the East Coast railway. Mr Leach said this was a matter of vital importance to Paeroa. The question of linking up with Pokeno had now been held over for several years. It had beien suggested, he believed, that the line from Hamilton should be duplicated. When the line came in from Whakatane, howeve , •the distribution would have to be done at Paeroa. So far nothing tangible had been done in connection with the Paeroa-Pokeno line. Mr Leach moved : “That the chamber write to the Minister of Railways pointing out that in view of the possible completion of the East Coast railway the time has arrived when work on the Paeroa-Ppkepo railway should be commenced in order to deal with the traffic that will come in.” It seemed ridiculous, he said, that they should complete the line between Whakatane and Paeroa possibly within 12 months and bring .the whole of the traffic to Paeroa, and then carry all of it through to Hamilton, especially as the Government. had approved of the Paeroa-Pokeno line. Hi added to the motion, "especially ir view of haulage and freight that would be avoided by the PaeroaPokeno line.” ' The motion was carried.

NEW RAILWAY STATION.

At a later stage the following resolution was moved by the president and carried : “That the Minister of Public Works be asked if he will kindly supply this c.hamber with information as to what steps, if any, have been taken to acquire land for the purpose of future requirements of the railway junction at Paeroa, and whether the trial surveys, which a deputation was informed would be made, have been made. If so, whether a route has been decidled upon that will avoid the necessity of closing the Ngahina bridge over the Waihou River at Puke for wffitcr traffic.”