RAILWAY TRACK AS ROAD

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 155, 14 March 1916, Page 4

RAILWAY TRACK AS ROAD

Further Consideration. The pioDosal that the Council should take over the old railway line from Hunciman to Paerata and from Buckland to Pokeno was turther discussed at last Ihursday's meeting of the Franklin County Cuuuci! Cr Motion suggested that the Minister for Kailways siuuld be commuoicated with in order to ascertain when he would next be iu Auckland, so that a deputation from the Council could interview him with a view ot making strong representations towards having the track vebted in the Council, He also considered that the Auckland Automobile Association should be approached and an endeavour made to secure their assistance hi the matter Tne chairman remarked that the County Engineer had already laid off the Bombay road with a view of making deviations which would cost £IO,OOO, and he (the chairman) bad been informed that the Public Works Engineer intended to report in favuur of the same. He considered that it was a pressing matte; for the Council to secure the portion of the track ftom Whangarata to Pokeno, but to take the balance would not, in his opinion, be in the best inttres'.s ot the Council. The track irom Paerata to l>uociman would cross the new line in two places, entailing level crossings, 'and the Coutcil Bhould avoid such. Also a considerable amount of private property would have to be purchased in that section cr Wilcox suggested that the Council would do well to apply to have the track vested in the Council. There were only two ways open for the Council to secure it, one by obtaining- Government assistance and the other by formiug special rating area and rating the ratepayers. He coneideied tnat the section between Paerata and Kunciman was the most important of the Jot Cr W:ods; Quite right. It would not cost much to keep it in order Cr Henry submitted that by getting an option over the whole of the track the Council would not be bound to take it over if they heard of some preferable scheire. He understood tnat there were people at either end of the PaerataKunciman section who were prepared to give land It was reßolved that the Minister for Railways shculd be communicated with and information ootajned from him as suggests d by Cr Motion