WAITEWHENA-TE KUITI RAILWAY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 483, 17 July 1912, Page 4

WAITEWHENA-TE KUITI RAILWAY.

MEETING AT ARIA. PETITION TO PARLIAMENT,

A well attended meeting of the settlers of Aria and surrounding districts was held in the Aria Town Hall on Friday afternoon, 12th inst., to consider the advisability of awakening interest in railway matters in the district. The convenor, Mr D. Finnigan, in explaining the object of the meeting, recalled a statement made by the late Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, at the turning of the first sod of the Stratford-Te Koura railway to the effect that shortly a railway would be necessary from Mangaroa through Aria to connect with the Main Trunk line near Te Kuiti. Since that time

no meeting to consider this matter

had been held, and considering the great development and opening up of the country it was high time some action was taken. The experience of all of late in connection with the roads had been such that the necessity of a railway could be denied by no one. The fact that the metalled roads were not going to stand the heavy traffic over them was evidenced by the present condition of the metallled portion of the main road. Further, the progress of metalling seems so difficult and slow that to the ordinary mind we could get a railway constructed sooner than get roads made. On resuming his seat Mr Finnigan called upon Mr P. Smyth to take the chair.

During the discussion several settlers Hpoke favourably of a connection with Waitara, the residents of which, in the opinion of the speakers, would render valuable help,much more so than the people of Te Kuiti, who seemed dead to their interests, or did not realise the benefits to be derived from a Mangaroa-Te Kuiti railway. However, the majority over-ruled them, and it was finally resolved to petition Parliament to authorise a railway from Mangaroa to some point on the Main Trunk line near Te Kuiti.

A strong commiittee was set up, thoroughly representative of all parts of the district, to work up interest in this vital matter and to circulate a petition for presentation to Parliament during the coming session. The secretary was instructed to forward a copy of thu resolution to Mr U. K. Wilson, member for the district, for presentation to the Minister.