WYNDHAM-MOKORETA DISTRICT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 12

WYNDHAM-MOKORETA DISTRICT.

VISITED BY MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT RAILWAY ROUTES INSPECTED. | Mr Malcolm, the "member for Clutha, and Mr Anderson, tiba m«nj>pr for Mataura, left Gore by ~ihe early train on Tuesday August 31, to visit the Wyndham-Mokoreta district. On their arrival at Wyndham they were taken charge of by members of the Railway League, at whose invitation the visit was made, an>d were driven up the Wyndham Valley on the ridges ovei Ilooking the Wyminam River. About 4.30 p.m. they re-ached Mr Foster's house, near tbs head of the valiey, and spent, the night there, meetinjr several of the sett leas, and getting much detailed information from them. It had been, initendeid to start early next morning and climb Mount Bleak, , from the top of which a splendid view can 1 be obtained of practically the whole country to be served by the Catlins-Waima-haka Railway, and over a low ' saddle on the flsnk of which it is believed the railway to conmeot the two ends of the railway must pass. But the top of tb& mountain was shTOitdeid in fog, and the rain which feQl through the night made the ascent of tho mountain out of the question. In the morning, therefore, trie party was driven back to Wyndham by the Redan Valley route- They were -thus given an excellent view of a wide extent of the country and of the two routes by either of which a Tailway might, by easy grades and with no difficulties in formation, be taken up the valley. The settlers cl.iim that as the- advantages of another through route between Dufliedin and Invercargill will compel the construction of the Catlins line through into Southland, the Wyndham Valley route is the line it should take into Southland. The country it would pass through is a wide tract of good agricultural land, and the grade and construction 1 very easy. In reply to questions. Mr Malcolm said that, as both the Wyndham Valley route and the Tokonui-Waikawa route were in Clubha. he couid not support one railway as against another, but he would be pleased to see r-hait any representations they might make should receive the attention of the Minister. He would be glad, with Mr Anderson's assistance, to ta-y to jjet a trial survey of the route made. i Mr AndiM-son saic thai as t.he representative of Wvnidlham, from which the railway would start, he would be pleased to assist in getting a 6urvev made. Re thought the district was entitled to a railway, though he was not in a position to say by which route. Both members said they* had formed a very favourable opinion of th» country. They rerurned to Wyndham in time to catch the second expiess from Invercargill.