STRATFORD – OKAHUKURA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 12, 8 December 1916, Page 2

STRATFORD - OKAHUKURA.

DELAY IN THE COMPLETION. MEETING AT TAUMARUNUI. SETTLERS’ INDIGNANT PROTEST. Per Press Association. Tanmanmni, December 8. A meeting of settlers at Okahnkuia raised an indignant protest over the slowness of the work in the tunnel, which is delaying the opening of the line between the Main Trunk ana Ohnra. The tunnel was pierced nine, months’ ago and since then only fifteen chains out of seventy-live have been broken down and concreted. At this rate, it will take four year's to complete the work. The opinion is expressed that the contract system at this end is a failure; on the other hand, the work is proceeding satisfactorily on the Stratford section under the co-operative system. Settlers are annoyed because money which was ear-marked for works four years ago is being spent freely at the Stratford section ami not here. A resolution was carried unanimously calling upon th(> Minister for Public Works and Acting-Prime Minister to waken up to the settlors’ wants.

The railway was promised thirteen years ago, and the Prime Minister (Hon. W. E. Massey) when in the district three years ago promised its completion to Matiere, ten miles from the Main Trunk, and which would tap some of the richest grazing lands in the Dominion.