CORRESPONDENCE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 503, 25 September 1912, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor. Sir,—ln your issue of September 7th, appears a letter from Mr Jackson in which he says I took exception to his criticism of the Mangaroa-Te Kuiti railway. Well, naturally I did do*so, apparently at the risk of displeasing the representative of the Kawhia Railway League, whose criticism I will say is by no means impartial. But 1 think we can claim the right to reply in such cases and make public some important features of the case which the other side may have forgotten. In his recent letter, Mr Jackson says: If at the time of the Ongarue railway discussion the Mangaroa-Te Kuiti route wag not considered necessary, it must be less so now; and in almost the same breath tells us thai the residents of Ohura, as well as the Minister of Public Works at that time were in favour of the Waitewhena route. Then surely it must have been considered necessary. Now, will go little further and say that all through the discussion, and afterwards this line was considered necessary. More: It was promised to be constructed. It has also been suggested that the Aria Railway League show some concern at th« attitude of the Kawhia Railway League. Well, 1 can assure you, sir, that this ha 3 no foundation, for several good reasons. First, this line has been surveyed, and all engineering reports are in its favour, including that of the engineer-in-chief of the department. It was originally intended to be the route of the Main Trunk line, and will be necessary in future to relieve haulage over the heavy grade that exists at present at Poro-o-tarao tunnel. More important than all, it will be the means of bringing closer to market, by its natural outlet, a la-ge and closely settled district, which can never be developed under the present conditions. The intention of the Kawhia Railway League is to deviate the trade of this district from the Main Trunk, which we can easily understand. This is the strongest factor in their claim for a railway. Now, sir, I would like, for the sake of some of your readers, to state the facts in connection with this matter. About four years ago, at a public meeting held at Kaeaea it was decided to ask for a trial survey of this line through Waitewhena valley from Mangaroa, and a junction with the Main Trunk. This request was granted and the survey was put through. A little later, on the occasion of turning the first sod of the railway at Te Koura, there were several deputations waited on the then Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, including one from Aria in connection with this railway. Without calling on the deputation, the Prime Minister made a public announcement that this railway, being considered necessary through Waitewhena valley and Te Kuiti, .\tha settlers could rest assured it would be constructed. At that time there was a deputation from Kawhia, asking foj a railway from Otorohanga direct to Kawhia. I would like to point out that "th 9 members of that deputation would not support any line further south than Otorohanga. It is evident they did not meet with much success in that direction, because at the present time we find them making their final effort to get a from "some place" as long as they have one end of it at Kawhia. On this occasion they are asking for a railway from Mangaroa, direct to Kawhia, and one, I beileve, from Hamilton. If they fail in this direction, their cas3 is hopeless, as they cannot very well ask for a railway from the West. Such has been the shifting movements for the past three years of the men who now constitute the Kawhia Railway League, and who now propose to settle in a satisfactory manner, once and for all time, the important matter of railway construction in the King Country. Nuw, sir, the secretary of that league tells your readers that the people of Aria are narrow-minded end ignorant of the country they are talking about, and advises them to take a broader view of railway matters. I will admit that the Kawhia League should find themselves in a good position to view a great portion of the King Country from all points in their efforts to dig out a railway. I would suggest to the secretary that if he is in possession of the great store of knowledge which his assertions would "or would not lead the public to believe," the best way to make use of it in the interest of the people generally, is not by writing to the press and telling its readers that the other fellow knows nothing about the matter under discussion,as it is quite possible that the other fellow may know just a little. In conclusion I would like to say that the Aria League are not at all likely to seek advice from men who cannot show a better record than that mentioned above. It is evident they have not so far been able to find out what it is they really want without misrepresenting and abusing others. —I am, etc., D. FINNIGAN. Kaeaea, September 13tb, 1912.