THE WAIUKU RAILWAY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 73, 4 March 1913, Page 3

THE WAIUKU RAILWAY.

Where Should The Junction be ? Further Surveys Asked For By Chamber of Commerce. The anncunc.mtnt that surveyors were at work on the route of the contemplated Waiuku railway, and that the junction wouki be somewhere near Paerata, caused the Pnk kohe Chamber ot Commerce to meet to discuss the situainn and to consider what steps ought to be taken to secure the connection at Pukekohe. The fretldent (Mr R F. Webster) spid it was understood that it was proposed to junction the Waiuku line witn the main In e somewhere below Paerata. Ihii would be detrimental to the interests of Pukekohe, and the Chamber should consider what action it should take. He contended it was to th° interest of Waiuku and Mauku with the surrounding districts to have the connection at Pukekohe. Mr Andrew: The question now is to ask tor a survey to be made from the Pukekohe station. Mr Towns n: Would the line be the same 1 ngth? The President: 1 think so. The main question is the cost of the land. Mr Andrew: Tha clearer the land the more freight to bi carried. Mr Perkins: Are the Chamber \ favour of the railway? Do they think it will pay? The President: That is not for the Chamber to say; Parliament has decided that the line should te made. Persnnally he was certain it would ?Oi pay. A greater ana b.ttcr scheme WBs to make the canal from Manukau ti Waitemata Mr W. Roulston said If the peopie ot Pukekohe had in the past fought for good roads the district would be much more thickly populated.

Mr Perkins considered it was impossible for the railway to compete with the vvat.r carriage. Mr Townson: Where do the Waiuku peoule favour the junction being ma"e7 Mr Koulston: Wherevsr the Department cho res to put it, as long as they get the railway. Mr Perki.s considered if the li,.e ever was made it should go through Aka Akaaul O'aua to Buckland. It opened up more hn 1 better country. Had the tio.'crwuicnt stopped the Uisborne line? Mr Andrew: They are not political lines; so it does not matter. The President: Suppose we look uenn tha Vvaiuku as a puiitical line? Mr Pc'ikins: There's no doubt it is a political line. The President: Then it should go where the most votes are, and that will be Pukekohe A membe.: It will go where it costs the least. Mr Jerkins: If we asked for a survey would the Government take it that we favoured the line? Mr Townson thought Pukekohe people should consider their own interests. The President pointed out that if Pukekohe were made the junction there would be a tar greater chance of securing the Main Trunk express stopping—not only on Sundays, but every day. Mr Andrew moved "That the 'Government be asked to smwy a route from Puktkohe to Waiuku, via Puni and Aka Aka, and also via Mauku and Patumahoe." The President seconded the resolution, which was carried.