THE OHURA RAILWAY

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 416, 22 November 1911, Page 5

THE OHURA RAILWAY

A RED-LETTER DAY

GREAT GATHERING OF SETTLERS.

The event for which the pioneers of » the Ohura Valley have been striving strenuously, ever since the collective voice of the community became sufficiently strong to be heard outside the confines of the Valley, was duly enacted to-day at Te Koura, when the Prime Minister turned the first sod of the railway which is to give access to the Ohura from the Main Trunk line, and eventually connect with the line from Stratford, which has now been pushed from the southern end to the vicinity of Whangamomona. The event is of supreme importance to the Ohura, and realises the hopes of many a settler who has won through the battle which must be fought by all who go into the backblocks' to carve , out homes. For the past decade the hopes of the pioneers have been centred upon the r?ihvay which was promised them when they took up their sections, and few in the community will grudge to the settlers the feeling of elation which must come with the realisation ot a long-deferred boon. The junction of the new line with the Main Trunk is some six miles further south than was originally intended, Ongarue has always been regarded as the point at which the junction was to be made, but the department engineers decided that everything pointed to Te Koura as being the most suitable spot, and the argument that a saving of six miles in length, and a sum of £60,000 would be effected by the alteration appears to be unanswerable. A considerable portion of the land in the vicinity of Te Koura is held by natives, but on the eastern side of the Main Trunk line a litt'e to the south of the station is a Crown block of about two thousand acres. The block which the new line will traverse after leaving Te Koura is Pukepoto a portion of Rangitoto Tuhua block. This country is mostly native owned and a considerable portion of it is in the hands of the Native Land Board.

When the Ohura Valley was first opened for settlement twelve or fourteen years ago the district was not regarded with particular favour. This was no doubt partly because of its isolated position, and the lack of good roads, but as the country began to get known and roading facilities increased the land began to get eagerly sought for, and during the past few years the population has increased to a wonderful extent. Owing to the lack of road metal the matter of constructing permanent roads in the district at anything like a reasonable cost has been a knotty problem for the settler, and as the necessity increased it became more and more apparent that the future of the district depended upon the railway. From the outset this opinion was held by the settlers, and it is but doing them justice to remark that they have loyally advocate! their cause through thick and thin. Quite a number of old settlers attended the opening function to-day and the number of smiling faces was sufficient indication of the feeling which animated them, and the deep satisfaction felt at the culmination of their years of effort for the good of the district.

CONSTRUCTION TIME AND COST

It will naturally be some considerable time before the line is sufficiently advanced to exercise any material benefit on the district, though if the estimate given by the Minister for Public Works on his last visit to the district is approximately correct the construction work should reach Mangaroa in about two years. Mr McKenzie on the same occasion stated that the cost of the line to Mangaroa should be about £25,000. If these figures are to be accepted as reasonably reliable an enormous impetus should be given to the district within the near future. EFFECT ON INDUSTRIES.

Hitherto the Ohura in common with other backblock districts has been tremendously handicapped in every respect owing to the lack of the necessary means of transit and the marvel is that the district has contributed so largely in wool and butter and beef products as it has done. Dairying has been estbalished in the district for the past three seasons but owing to the drawbacks mentioned the industry has not thriven remarkably. Means of transit is such a vital factor in connection with dairying that the real success of the industry will commence with the advent of the railway. In like manner the carrying of stock to and irorn the district by rail will prove an incalculable boon to settlers and will increase their monetary returns to an extent unthought of by the pioneer who had to battle through miles of an almost impassable road in order to reach a market. RAILWAY AND ROADS.

A significant feature in connection with the railway is the fact that in ..addition to the immense immediate benefit which the line will confer it will also make possible the metalling of the roads. The district has suffered severely from the lack of good metal and it ha 3 long been recognised that in the comprehensive metalling of the district roads the material will have to be brought into the district by rail. Small wonder that the Ohura people mads a gallant stand and strove manfu'ly for the cause which meant salvation from isolation and disabilities of every description.

TURNING THE FUST SOD.

RESOURCES OF TIIE DISTRICT. Some idea of the resources of the district may be obtained from the fact that it is estimated that 100,000 sheep are grazed in the locality and 33 the work of bush falling and grassing is proceeding steadily each year this number will be annually augmented to a very considerable extent. Cattle farming has always been a feature of the Ohura,but with the introduction of dairying under really favourable conditions in the matter of transit this branch of farming may be reasonably expected to supplant the cattle industry to a considerable degree. The land for the most, part is good papa country capable of carrying three sheep to the acre and where not suitable for dairying it can be readily seen that the land is highly profitable for sheep farming. Timber milling is also being carried on in one or two places and with improved facilities for handling the output there is a bright | future ahead for the timber industry.

TURNING THE FIRST SOD. FIRST MAIN TRUNK FEEDER. By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent. Taumaruui, This Day. The ceremonny of turning the first sod at Te Koura this afternoon was somewhat marred by the weather conditions, but a large and representative gathering assembled. The Ministerial party consisted of Sir Joseph and Lady Ward and Miss Eileen Ward, Messis Hislop and Matthews (private secretaries), H. J. H. Blow, Under-secre-tary for Pubilc Works. Mr McKenzie, resident engineer for the district, was also present. The Ohura County Council was represented by Mr G. C. Stevenson (county chairman), and Mr J. F. McClenaghan (county clerk). Mr W. T. Jennings, member for the district, was prominent among those present and received many congratulations over the success of his efforts in connection with getting the line 3tarted. Mr C. K. Wilson, Opposition candidate for the electorate, was also present, along with a large number of visitors from Te Kuiti. Taumarunui was also strongly represented, the majority of the prominent citizens being present. Sir Joseph Ward said, with respect to the line, it was estimated that it would take about two years to complete. It was intended to push ahead on the section to Matiere as quickly as possible. The first sod marked a very important epoch in the history of the King Country. The starting of this line meant the first feeder to the Main Trunk railway. The line would be of great service to the Ohura settlers, and he was glad to see they appreciated it so highly. The only lengthy engineering difficulty in the construction work would be the tunnel, but a little time would overcome that difficulty. The junction of the new line with the Main Trunk is 167 miles from Auckland, but the Auckland province will only benefit to the extent of about a quarter of a mile, the line traversing for the most part the Taranaki province. The line crosses the Ongarue river about a quarter of a mile from the starting j point. It is authorised from Te Koura j to Matiere, a distance of about eleven j miles, and the vote for the whole work ! is £IOO.OOO. There will be a tunnel of j 74 chains about two miles l'rom the j starting point, and it is estimated that j it will take about two years to put j through. Formation works, however, I will be pushed ahead regardless of the tunnel. After a traverse of about a mile and a half the railway will tap an area of Crown lands to the extent of 10,000 acres. The block is surveyed and ready to be put on the market and it i is understood that it will be available in a few months time. The survey of the land has interfered with several of the boundaries, hence the delay. The Maori name for the starting point is Opotiki. The question of the deviation from Ongarue is considered by a large number to be wise, inasmuch as miles of line will be saved. This will make the total distance from New Plymouth to Ongarue 113 miles, and there is only a quarter of a mile difference in distance from Stratford to Ormarue by the present route.

Fifteen men started work on the line on Saturday, and a considerable amount of plant is now on the ground.