LINKING UP AUCKLAND AND TARANAKI.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2760, 19 July 1924, Page 2

LINKING UP AUCKLAND AND TARANAKI.

BY RAILWAY CONNECTION

Well i ngt.o ii, Yost.erda y

Kovery local body in Taranaki was represented in a deputation to Messrs Massey and Coates to-day, which urged the completion of the connection of the 84-mile gap between Stratford and Okahukura.

Air Coates, in reply, said £447,000 had been spent up to .lane last on the western end of the line and another £IOO.OOO would complete it; to Ohara. Alter that, the cost of completion would be a million sterling. There was very heavy tunnelling lu be done aml liejctmhl not say anything about expediting ihe work, as (lint depended on other works in hand. However,?..the railway was nee.essary and must take its order of completion. It was one of the most important lines:-,? ■(=■. i? .Mr Massey said I lie country could not afford to a flo w a gap of 34 miles iu what . wasAroally a Main Trank line. An important feature of the completion of the line was the linking up of t\vo"great province's: lie wits not in it position to make any promised and neither was the Minister of Public Works, but the gup could not be ailojved to remain.: ll was a mailer of iiiiance-'and at present they had even more urgent purposes Lu finance in the way of construction.