NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 18 October 1911, Page 3

NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

vote of £120,000,

, An exceptionally good year's work has been .'love on this railway. The section between Wellsford and Te Hana, three miles 'l 7 chains, was opened for traffic on May lfi, 1910. and the further section to Kaiwaka, eight miles 65 chains, is approaching completion, the rails being now laid into the Kaiwaka station. The Ross Hill tunnell was also completed and lined during the year. "Wovfc on the Otamatea and Bickerstaffe sections has been vigorously proceeded with, and contracts let for the Otamatea bridge at Young's Point and for a" shipping wharf at the same place. A commencement has been made with the Bickerstiffe tunnel and the Maungaturoto tunnel will shortly be taken in hand. The permanent survey of the line from Maungaturoto tc McCarroll's Gap is proceeding, and making satisfactory progress. It is proposed to ask Parliament to authorise further extemionof the ]me, namely, from McCarroil's Gap to the left bank of the Wairoa River, in the Maungaru survey district, being an additional length of 25 miles. This extension will connect with the Wairoa River, and thus enablo wateiborne freight to be brought to tiie railway from a considerable distance. As soon as a suitable length of the railway at the Wairoa River end can be surveyed, it is proposed to put construction in hand at that end and work southwards so as to mcc* the construction parties already working from ToHnna northwards The expenditure on the North Auckland railway duringl tlio previous financial year was stated to be a record, but I am glad to say that last year's expenditure was even larger, having amounted to no less than £73,042.' For tho current year a vote of £120,000 is proposed. Bon. members will rocollecl that during last rocpss a Royal Com mission was appointed to inquire as to the best loufe for the extension of this railway north of AlcOarroll's Gap, and it is very pleasing to me to be able to announce that the Commission after going very exhaustively into the matter, and taking a large amount of evidence, came to a unanimous conclusion , namely, that the railway should be nxpeditiously constructed to a junction with the section of the Kawakawa-Hokianga railway now in course of construction between Kawakawa and Kaiki-he by a route lyirg to the westward of the Tangihua Range. The Commissioners report, that the route selected traverses throughout the entire length a large area of rick pastoral land of uniloim quality, capable of carrying a large population when removed from its present isolation. 1 have already stated that provision w.ll be made m Railways Authorisation Bill to sanction the construction of the first portion of the line recommended by the Commission.

EOADS AND BRIDGES. The provision for the., current year Ik as under : — Roads, etc., L 553.865. Back block roads, L 296.135. Roads for goldfielda, L-50,000. Opening up Crown lands (Settlement Account), Lloo,ooo. National Endowment, L 19,300. Land ior settlements, L 20,000. New Hint Road, L 14,000. Maintenance of roads (Consolidated Fund), L 35,000. Total, L 788..350.