EXTENSION OF THE HOKONUI RAILWAY.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 8, 20 May 1893, Page 7

EXTENSION OF THE HOKONUI RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I perceive a meeting of settlers has been held in the Hedgehope schoolhouse for the purpose of asking the Government for an extension of the Forest Hill tramway, or rather, the Hokonui railway, as it is now more correctly called. It would further seem that a movement is on foot all along the “ line ” from Winton to Gore, having the same object in view. That a railway passing over the footslopcs of the Hokonui Hills in the direction pointed out —from the present terminus close by the Hokonui Coal Company’s workings, to Gore —would be a most useful crosscountry line is undoubted. It would traverse a great deal of agricultural land—both alluvial and terrace —only partly settled for want of access, also limestone in unlimited supply, and a large area of forest lands, and the more than probable extensive coal deposits that would he made available. The construction of a railway to enable these products to be put on the market in the most direct and cheapest manner is only a matter of time. The action nowbeing taken by the settlers and those interested will hasten on the work. Extended from the present terminus eastward, across the Upper Makarewa, for about three miles, it would touch the Hedgehope district road at M'Donald’s corner, from whence a great deal of farm produce would even now he carried, although under the present conditions production is restricted from want of railway facilities. A little further extension would cross the Dunsdale Yalley, in which there is some good land —bush and open —and the Invercargill Water Reserve, and also give access to the largest maiden forest in Southland, probably upwards of 40,000 acres, containing an almost inexhaustible supply of all the hard and soft woods, native to the country, situated on the southern slopes of the Hokonui ranges. Proceeding eastward, it would enter upon the New Zealand and Australian Land Company’s Hedgehope estate, consisting of alluvial and terrace lands, with a lengthened frontage to the Hokonui bush, which, if subdivided aud sold, would locate a large number of agriculturalists, and thence through the already settled-upon and cultivated Waimumu and Charlton blocks to the most suitable point of junction with the main line of railway, which would very likely be at or near the Charlton station and siding. One of the first results on the completion of this line would be the establishment of a sawmilling industry, employing much labour, and supplying a large eastward-going timbertraffic. On the assurance of the work being commenced at an early date, and carried on to completion in the near future, an immediate impetus would be given to the settlement and improvement of the land within easy reach of the railway, and would be acted upon by tho many and increasing numbers of people who are now desirous of obtaining land in handy positions. It is likely—almost a certainty—that a considerable coal traffic would follow, as lignite or brown coal is known to underlie, at small depth, the footslopes, over which the line would pass, of the Hokonui hills. The Hokonui Coal Company are already sending out large quantities of serviceable coal to Winton. The Forest Hill range may b® called one mass of limestone, with plenty of wood for burning, &c. Lime is coming into use for farm lands, with considerable benefit to grass and grain production. The carriage of lime will possibly swell the traffic returns. A good potter’s clay is said to exist in quantity near the limestone formations. And last, though by no means least, will be the increased agricultural aud pastoral production of the whole district when given the advantages of railway carriage. Over the whole length—from Forest Hill to Gore —there are no expensive earthwork cuttings or embankments to make up, nor are many bridges required, with timber nearly on the spot, therefore the cost of construction of this railway should not be a very deadly argument against a section of it being put in hand by an early date.— Yours, etc., Rawarua. 15th May.

In pursuance of the resolution passed at the recent meeting at Hedgehope, Messrs Andrew McDonald, G. Gorman, A. McKay, and J, Miller, waited on the Colonial Treasurer on the 13th inst., and brought under his notice the advantage that would accrue both to the district and to the local railway revenue if the Foreset Hill line were extended for a distance of from three to five miles, with a view to its ultimate extension to Gore. Mr Ward, in reply, said:—l have heard what the deputation has to say with regard to the extension of this railway. Gf course I am aware of the hardships settlers are under in not having the facilities railway communication would undoubtedly bring. All the members of the Government are favourable to relieving people settled in the colony under similar circumstances wherever they possibly can, but of course we have to cut our cloth according to the means at our disposal for carrying out works all over the country. I will have a report from the responsible officers in connection with the request you now make. When this report is furnished the Government will consider the whole matter, and we shall then be in a position to decide whether we can do anything. Personally I am favourable to assisting settlers as far as I possibly can, but it is a big matter you are now asking to have done,

and it is one that requires to be gone about with care. The officers of the Public Works Department must first report on it and all the Ministry must have a say in such a request. The line would no doubt be of very great value to a number of other settlers besides yourselves. I have not had an opportunity of acortaining what the views of the other members for the district are on this matter. They would, of course, have to be consulted, as it is a work that would effect Southland generally. After I have obtained further information upon the matter it will be fully inquired into, but in the meantime I cannot make any positive statement.