THE RAILWAY TO HAWERA.

Patea Mail, 25 January 1881, Page 2

THE RAILWAY TO HAWERA.

The Wellington N.Z. Times devotes an article to setting forth the loss Wellington merchants are likely to suffer through the trade of Patea county and countrynorthward being snapped up by Auckland merchants. The case is put thus—freight from Auckland to Manukau 5s per ton, Manukau to Waitara river 12s Gd, Waitara to Normanby by rail 15s 9d—total from Auckland to Normanby £1 13s 3d. Freight, Wellington to Patea, £1 ss, cartage from Patea to Normanby £1 15s.—total from Wellington to Normanby £3. The conclusion is that Auckland must carry the more northern trade, including the area now being peopled from Waingongoro to Parihaka. The remedy most strongly urged is the construction of the railway line from Patea to Normanby, and thereby reduce land carriage to 7s 6d per ton, with, if practicable, lower rates of freight on sea borne goods. “ Every possible pressure ought to be brought to bear upon the Government to give serious consideration to the construction of the railway line between the Patea River and Hawera.” Our contemporary concludes by earnestly counselling the Government to favorably consider its propositions anent the Patea-Normanby line, and says, 11 we as earnestly adjure the people of Wellington to keep the object in view and agitate—agitate till it is compassed. The line of railway we are dealing with now is of vital importance to Wellington. Moreover, a through line from Patea to Normanby would bring the present densely-timbered County of Mauawatu into easy and cheap communication with the comparatively open country of the Patea District, and a large and highly profitable timber trade could not fail to be established.” The Wanganui Herald does not appear to like the gushing way the Wellington paper pleads on its own account for public works to be carried on in Patea, and, quite ignoring argument, sueeringly insinuates a bad case against Wellington because the Times says *• Waverloy is situated ten miles from Patea,” and that Hawera is about eighteen miles distant —as if the distances given were glaringly incorrect. An inaccuracy our Wanganui contemporary might with advantage to Patea settlers have pointed out, but didn’t, was the statement that the country from Patea to Hawera was level, and u presenting no engineering difficulties whatever,” Unfortunatey, though it is “ splendid country,” tunnelling will be required at Tongahoe, which competent authorities estimate will occupy fully two years at the rate of progress usual in similar work. This tunnelling is uppermost in the minds of settlers acquainted with the country and anxious for connexion by rail with Hawera. Individual members of the Government have had this difficulty brought under notice and ha- 1 3 promised attention. Nothinghashowever been done beyond promising. As regards the up country line, this tunnelling is the must pressing requirement. Wanganui may not consider its interests served by the

construction of the Hue beyond Patea,

and sympathy much less help is scarcely to be expected. Wellington is evidently alive to the importance of the work for the sake of securing trade, and our Wellington contemporary might do good service by correcting its excusable mis-statement, and drawing pointed attention to the necessity for the tunnelling at Tongahoe being started. Patea settlers would also do well, though its public bodies, to communicate the facts of the case to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce as the surest way of obtaining the attention and help of Wellington merchants : and by agitating till something more substantial than promises is drawn from the Government.