RAILWAY LEAGUE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 364, 27 May 1911, Page 5

RAILWAY LEAGUE.

MEETING AT PIO PIO. The following fuller report of the meeting of the Mokau-Waitewhena Railway League is now to hand: — The meeting was held at Pio Pio on Saturday, May 20th, when there was a representative gathering of settlers from all parts of the district. Mr Elliott, President of the League, explained his object in convening the meeting. The Minister for Public Works had at last stated that the, country warranted a railway, and that personally he was in favour of the route the League advocated. This was a matter for congratulation, and whilst he could not reconcile the Minister's acrobatic feats when he said "in the interests of the country the railway should go 'there,' but we are going to put it 'here,' " he advised the League to press forward with renewed zeal, as they were now in a better position inasmuch as tiieir route had the seal of the Minister's approval. Messrs O'Dwyer, of Paemako, Brady, of Mangaotaki, C. S. Riddle and D. Finnigan of Kaeaea, Livingtone and W. Power, of Pio Pio each commented on the League's future line of action. A great deal had been made of the isolation o£ the Mangapapa settlers on the Ongarue routs, and those settlers were only eleven miles from the Main Trunk, and had only been on their holdings some eight or nine years. On the other hand, settlers in the Mahoenui and other portions of the Waitewhena route had been isolated for eighteen yeats, and were some thirty-five miles from the railway at Te Kuiti Paemako settlers had occupied their holdings fifteen years under similar conditions, being twenty miles from the line, and the connecting link throughout that twenty miies being nothing but a quagmire.

The question of a possible junction at Te Kuiti was advocated by the President, and it was suggesed he should be instructed to act with those interested in Te Kuiti.

The following resolution was moved by the President, and seconded by Mr Houghton and carried unanimously:—

"That this meeting expresses its gratification that the Minister for Public Works favours the Waite-whena-Mokau route of railway, and urges that the route be authorised and the work commenced immediately, for the following reasons: 1. —The tremendous increase in settlement all along this route, and complete iolation of settlers in that locality. 2. The extensive area of rich virgin country yet to be developed, capable of carrying close settlement. o. —■ The recent purchase of 50,000 acres of freehold country in the vicinity which must be cut up as per agreement within three years from date of purchase, and the remote distance of this block from railway communication. 4. —The heavy expense entailed for cartage of supplies to settlers in the district, representing some thousands of pounds per annum for this item alone. s.—The tapping of what is probably the largest coal-bearing area in the Dominion."