RAILWAY TO KAWHIA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 415, 18 November 1911, Page 5

RAILWAY TO KAWHIA.

LARGE ISSUE AT STAKE

A question that has been exercising (he mids of settlers in the Hauturu. Te Rau-a-Moa, and other districts in the vicinity of Kawhia, is a railwav from the Kawhia harbour to the Main Trunk line. The position in which settlers are placed at present as regards freights is far from satisfactory, The Northern Steamship Company charge 17s 6d per ton from Onehunga to Kawhia, whilst the price from the former port to Waitara is only lis. Settlers cannot understand why such is the case, because boats can get in at all times to Kawhia, whereas at Waitara they can only get in and out on the tides. Th»n, again, there is tne cost of freight across the harbour tu various parts by launch, makin ;j the total at the finish very expensive.

In chatting with a Chronicle representative Mr J. E. Noonan, a member of the Kawhia County Council, said that he was firmly convinced that it was desirable that a railway should run from Kawhia harbour to some point on the Main Trunk line. Me considered tha such a service wouii be of incalculable benefit to the farmers of the South Waikato, and the whole of the King Country, which was an enormous area of country. The great majority of the land was good sheep country, and it was essential that in the near future something should be done in the matter of freezing works. There was also to be considered the great output of dairy produce which was sure to be a very big item in a few years' time. There was also the question of the export of timber to Australia. For those reasons he was of the opinion that a railway to Kawhia from any point on the Main Trunk line should be authorised, because Kawhia was a reliable port and shipping at any time could not be interfered with, and also it was the nearest point to Australia. Dealing with the matter of freezing Mr Noonan declared that Waitara was the dearest shipping port in New Zealand. Boats which loaded for the Home markets had to lie 'out in the roadstead, a distance of 11 miles, and had to be tended by lighters, whereas in Kawhia the big boats could come alongside. The enormous strides made in the district by sheep farmers of recent years had caused him to move in the matter of trying to obtain a freezing hulk.

With regard to the railway he thought that if settlers in the South Waikato, and the King Country, took united action in the matter, and made the necessary representations in a forcible manner, that they would, in a short time, arrive at something definite. Mr Noonan concluded by saying that if such a project was carried into effect settlers in and around Te Awainutu, and other places, would benefit to the extent of fully 30s per ton on the existing charges, a fact which meant a great deal to a community. Australian products would be brought into the country cheaper, and in fact the condtions of the farmers and business men in the locality would be generally improved and financially benefitted.