THE KAWHIA RAILWAY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 549, 12 March 1913, Page 6

THE KAWHIA RAILWAY.

SURVEY BEING MADE

Mr L. B, Campbell, of the Public Works Department, has been sunt to Kawhia for the purpose of making a reconnaissance survey of the Kawhia Main Trunk railway, which would seem io indicate that the representations of those alive to the value of these railways to the Dominion are about to be given effect to. Te Awamutu is practically in a direct line between Rotorua and Kawhia. By the construction of the Te AwamutuPutaruru railway (estimated 30 miles) an immediate saving of ten and forty miles is made in the respective journeys between Auckland and Eotorua and Wellington and Rotorua. The proposed line would pass through Kihikihi, touch on the Waikerie prison reformatory and Tokaanui Mental Hospital blocks (6000 acres). Further un it would touch on the Wharenuhanga block (24,0u0 acres), crossing the Waikato river at Waoutu, about ten miles distant from Putaruru. At a very low estimate this railway, besides a valuable saving in distance, would serve to develop 350,000 acres of rich agricultural land all of which is capable of a very vast output once its capabilities are availed of. It would pass through country containing met«l deposits so that this railway is eagerly sought by every local body in the Waikato whose works are much handicapped through the shortage of metal. By the construction of the Kawhia-Te Awamutu line estimated at 40 miles, access would be given to the best harbour on the west coast vt the North Island, while the line itself Would traverse rich pastoral country. Kawhia harbour is about 200 miles nearer Sydney than is Auckland or Wellington. Te Awamutu, owing to its geographical position, is admirably situated as a possible junction for branch railways. Its back country is second to none in the whole Dominion, and is capable of yielding a great return to settlers. Its development is retarded owing to lack of a reaJy means of communicatiun. I have always advocated (says the Te Awamutu correspondent of the Waikato Times) the principle thai the Kawhia line, to determine the route of which a reconnaissance survey is now being made, should follow the best possible route from a Dominion point of view, and feel that the result of the present survey will be a reliable guide to that route. It is certainly to be hoped, huwever, that the possibility of the i proposed Te Awamutu-Pdtaruru railway becoming some day an accomplished fact, and the resulting advantage to a Kawhia-Te Awamutu connection will be borne in mind by those whose duty it is to finally decide the route to be followed.