MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 136, 10 June 1903, Page 4

MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

MB. W. JBNNING'S IMPRESSIONS. Mr. W. Jennings, M.H.R., returned from Te Aroha on Saturday and left by the Ngapuhifrom Manukau on his trip home to New Plymouth. Prior toj leaving Mr Jennings was interviewed by a representative of the Auckland Star regarding his trip with the Hon, Hall-Jones over the Main Trunk railway line. Asked as to the statements that the Waimarino bush did not 'contain anything like the quantity of totara that had been estimated by previous v■ si tors, Mr Jennings said that the Ministerial party by following the new tervica road missed tbe best of totara. " Had we gone by the old road, round by the Otapouri clearing," said Mr Jennings, " I could have shown them miles of magnificent totara trees; As you know, I have been round that way before, and the totara trees to be seen are really wonderful. Oa the side we went this tim°, it is a mixed bush with only occasional clumps of totara, but the other way there is scarcely, any other t mber to be seeD, and 6ome of the j trees tower up over 100 feet in height before the branches start to form the ! head. Having gone by the new road j through the mixed bush to some extent I explains the disappointment expressed [by the members of the Ministerial ■party, as tbey could only speak of what [they actually saw, and unfortunately ithe road made by the Public Works Department for railway purposes does not show the best of the totara timber.

"I notice you left the party and weDt down the Ohura Valley. Sou nsad to be a strong advocate for the line going that way. What are your impressions now ?" " As far as the Ohura Valley is concerned the opinion I expressed—which was published in the Auckland Star niae yeais ago—has been confirmed. I said then that Ohura was a splendid district for settlement, and although the line was not taken that way, still settlement in tbe valley is progressing rapidly, owing to the excellent quality of the hnd. An evidence of this is that some sixty settlers have asked to have a post office established. As there is no railway communication with Auckland or Taranaki, ifc is most probable that Wanganui will secure that trade. Mr Hatrick, of Wanganui, 'proposes building three small steamers I of very light draught, which will be able to ran up the river to a place a little j below Mangaroa, and thus tap the Ohura trade. All that has been said in favour of the Ohura land is conI firmed by results where cultivation has taken place. As a pastoral country it is all that could be desired, for th 9 cattle from Ohura sell well. A road is now being pushed ahead through the Tangarakau. About eight miles are to be made, including a road tunnel through a spur. When this is completed it will give a good road from Ongarue to Whangamomona. There should be great traffic up there, but what is wanted urgently now is better facility for getting the mails. lam s'rry to gay that as orders have been given this winter to stop wheel traffic up the Ohura, there will be considerable suffering for the settlers, as it will mean packing everything. I may say it was my intention originally to have gone by road to Stratford, but owing Ito bad weather I was compelled to return to Auckland in order to get home I to New Plymouth.