THE RAILWAY DEVIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8083, 12 April 1906, Page 3

THE RAILWAY DEVIATION.

The Railway Department lias practically decided to commence the work of diverting the railway from tho centre of the town immediately after the Easter holidays, and has, it is understood, made arrangements with the owners to take lands to be traversed by the line, so that there will be no delay in putting the works in hand. It is practically certain that the inland route lias been selected, and the line will, consequently, run along Bullcr street, which is as yet unformed and umnctallcd here, although affording access to several sections, few of them built upon as yet. A considerable amount of private property will be affected, and, in many ca-.cs, road frontages entirely cut off, necessitating payment of a good deal of compensation.

In conversation with an official high in the public service, a Daily News representative was informed that the beach route, along the foot of the cliffs which bouud Woolcombe Terrace is entirely out of court, ttte engineers having reported adversely upon that scheme as presenting engineering difficulties that will not be met with in the selected line. A study of the map of the coast-lino at this point reveals the objoction to the most casual observer, and this is to be found in the big curves that will be necessary to take the line along tho beach. Curves, of course, especially sharp curves, must bo avoided as far as possible, and particularly in close proximity to a railway station. The work of making the deviation will be much bigger than ie generally believed, the first portion of it entailing a big cutting through the Sash and Door Company's yard, and the land to the eastward of it. The £15,000 grant is only a small portion of tho money that will be required before the work is completed. The Department has naturally decided to be guided in this matter by its officers, who have been at great pains to s'eeure the best rouie, not to suit the convenience of property owners who may have pictured a suburban flan station ou their properties, but to get the lino in the position that will best conserve the department's aud colony's interests. The engiueors are of opinion that many years must elapse before Ihe new line will be threatened by the encroachment of the sea. A prominent townsman who has strongly advocated the beach route, has stated his intention, now that he is reported beaten, of assisting in getting the work pushed ahead, and strongly deprecates the stand taken by some people in denouncing the {department for .its choice and for failing to consult the Borough authorities. They were certainly entitled to an answer to correspondence, but only as a matter of courtesy.