SHELLEY BEACH RAILWAY

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 2 September 1920, Page 2

SHELLEY BEACH RAILWAY

[to the editor]

Sir, —At Mr McLeod's meeting the other night, the question arose as to whether it would not be better to deepen the river to Mt. Rex —and {thus connect with the Main Trunk railway line —than to build a line to Shelley Beach. One speaker objected that the river would silt up after being dredged. Mr .Stewart said so far as he knew, rivers scoured and deepened from the action of steamers' propellors—and this is a fact. Riverhead may be taken as an example, for in early days it was only the smallest cutters that could- enter the river, even at high water. And now, after years of steamer trade, the channel has deepened to such an extent that fair-sized vessels can cuter at low water. The project seems to be late, as the railway will shortly serve all the Upper Kaipara districts, including Dargaville. A good road already exists half way to Shelley Beach. Why not complete it for the use of passengers by belated steamers, and for the purpose of bringing the catches of fish regularly to the market ? Did the chairman of the meeting notice when counting hands that several held up both hands? —I am, etG., C. A. RBARDON. Helens ville, 1/9/30.. I