The Patea Mail. Established 1875. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1883. THE RAILWAY ROUTE.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1046, 13 June 1883, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Established 1875. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1883. THE RAILWAY ROUTE.

The question of railway route from Auckland to Wellington is still exercising attention,in the various centres of population, and a Wellington deputation, headed by the ■Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, has been again induced to interview the Hon. Mr Johnston on the subject, the bias of the speakers showing strongly for the central route via Mn imotu, joining at Te Awamutu. The reply of the Minister for Public Works was the most satisfactory of any yet given, and was to the effect that the three proposed .routes would be surveyed before any decision was arrived at, and that the cost of construction, suitability of the country for settlement, probable traffic, and the practical advantages of the respective routes would be taken into consideration. There is not a doubt but political influence will also carry weight. An undue eagerness was shown by one of the deputation to point out that a saving of seventy miles in length would be made, by the central route, quite ignoring, of course, the length of trunk line already constructed from Waitara southwards, and to which at several points there is strong evidence that the line from Auckland o-.H r] V<o AAnwonionflyr for the present cost in actual construction. There is not a doqJ.it but a central line will some day be required. The line, however, for the present is the one which will give through communication between, Auckland and Wellington in the quickest time, and at the least cost, at the same time opening up the largest area of country suitable for immediate settlement, or, if practicable, developing to the fullest extent marketable minerals. The Rangitikei Advocate goes this length, “ That the influences in favour of the Mokan swindle are very powerful and people who desire to protect the Treasury from being plundered must be up and doing with prompt energy and persistent perseverance.” Wanganui journals, big with expectation as to what that port may some day become, spite of the expensive rebuffs met with by floods, shallows, and other formidable; difficulties in the way of making Wanganui an ocean going shipping port, see only that the line must end there or .thereabouts. -Almost every' township along the coast has advocates, who insist that the only practicable junction! of the main trunk line is with them, while the chief towns are all at logger, heads. The Taranaki Herald retorts against southern towns “ that the Anck.land Chamber of Cominerce has taken the matter np, and will bring its influence to bear in trying to prevent the railway being taken through a barren; wilderness, when a short, easy, 1 and : inexpensive route through a grand, 5 fertile country is available for the purpose; ” and quotes Dr. Hector' against advocates of the central route,; who, - after » stating - /that r he has’ beem all over the interior and knows the country east and west of Ruapehu; and Taupo, says “that it would befolly ; and madness to take a railway there—that it is a poor miserable district covered with pumice.” Mr Garkeek's recently published report is very favour-: able ,as regards the country from, his; starting point at Stratford to, his highest; exploration on the Waitara River, and? he , is of opinion that There are no; obstacles to the construction of a railway line so far as he has traversed, while it will be, possible to tap the line already constructed at more than one place. The latest item from a Taranaki point of view, is furnished by remarks made by Mr T. Kelly, M.H.R., at a dinner on the occasion of the Bell Block ploughing match. He said: “ He hoped in a few years to see the district connected with Wellington and Auckland by the railway (applause). With respect to the route to the latter place it would have to go by way of Mokan, whether it came out by Waitara or Inglewood. The question as regards the route was put to Major Atkinson, who told them he was in favour of it being taken the shortest and cheapest way; and there was no doubt that whether it went by way of Waitara or Inglewood it would be shorter by some fifty or sixty miles (besides going’through superior agricultural land) than if it was carried by way of Wanganui. If it came via Mokan a large source of mineral wealth in the shape of coal would be opened np, and by means of the rail it could be supplied all along the line as far as Wanganui at a cheap rate. This would give employment to a large number of people, who would form settlements near the mines; and, as they would require to be fed, it would afford a market for the agriculturists’ produce. The coal would supply the railway, as well as affording a revenue to assist in defraying the working expenses. It would be the means of settling the Native difficulty, and tend to bring about a prosperous state of affairs.” The remarks by Mr Kelly are strong in

favour of the Mokanj and are in no way dictatorial as to the particular point at which junction with the present line may be effected. Taking this in conjunction with reports of the country furnished by Mr Carkeek and Mr Donkin, recently, and Mr Cheal, six or seven years ago, a very good case is made out for the through line of railway running down this Coast. So far as Patea is concerned, the point of juncture is of minor importance. Seeing, however, the strenuous efforts by strong political combinations in various places to force the central line on the country, it is desirable that whatever influence this district, can muster should be brought to bear in favour of the Moknu route, if possible, to join at Stratford. We should be pleased to know that the recently appointed committee has not overlooked this important matter.