PROPOSED NEW RAILWAY.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 4 September 1919, Page 3

PROPOSED NEW RAILWAY.

KAUKAPAKAPA dT^~- VALLEY.

"tit a recent meeting of the Waitemata Chamber of Commerce, Mr A. Harris, M.P., urged that immediate steps for !the construction of the proposed Waitemata railway should be undertaken. The desirability of the -railway had been realised some years ago as the result of the increased population and growth of -^.affic. Mr J. W. Mullins was virtually the father of the movement, as it had been on his suggestion thatthe speaker had asked ~ the Minister for Public Works for a survey of the locality. The result of the investigations was that the project was deemed not Jjply practicable, but desirable. cost was not excessive, and the route suggested, from Wairau Bridge, on the western side of Pupuke, to Kaukapakapa, was 22 miles, only half the distance of the present line from Auckland via Helensville. The Government had recognised the possibilities of the locality, and that some form of duplication was inevitable. The proposed line would traverse the Albany and Dairy Flat districts, pass Whitehill school, through the Kaukapakapa Valley to Kaukapakapa, a distance of 22 miles. The Waitemata Railway League has been satisfied by this route, and had decided to support it. The shortening of the route would be most advantageous to the four marine suburbs, Devonport, Birkenhead, Takapuna and Northcote. It would open up thousands of acres of productive country, and the four boroughs would be brought together by direct communication. National development made cheap and rapid railways essential,and practically the whole of the area affected by this project was within the suburban area, which meant minimum fares.

The cost of bridging the harbour at the present time was prohibitive, the estimated cost for the shortest route being in the vicinity of £1,250,000.

Regarding the financial aspect of the proposal, Mr Harris said that he did not anticipate any difficulty, owing to the fact that thousands iof acres affected were Crown Lands, which would be opened up with lucrative results.

Mr F. Heldt moved the following resolution, which was carried unanimously : " That in view of the fact that the proposed Wait,emata railway would reduce the distance between Auckland and Kaukapakapa by approximately 22 miles, and at the same time open up for settlement extensive areas of productive country, this meeting called by the Waitemata Chamber of Commerce is of the opinion that, in the interests of the Auckland provincial district, as well as of the wider field of national efficiency, an early authorisation of the proposed railway should receive the sympathetic consideration of the Government." A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Harris for his address,