WESTPORT-REEFTON LINE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 147, 30 September 1910, Page 5

WESTPORT-REEFTON LINE

MJP.'S REMARKS RESENTED. By Telegraph.—Pnss Association.. Westport, Last Night. Strong exception is taken here to the remarks made by Mr, Wright, member for Wellington South, that "long before the Westport-Reefton line, reached Reefton the grass would have grown very high over the Westport end, and that by the time the whole money allocated had been spent it would require a squad of surveyors to hunt for the rails first laid." It is pointed out that Mr. Wright was absolutely unaware of the position, and that, in justice to this district, he should frankly state who is the gentleman whom he says' knows what he is talking about, and supplied him with his information. Mr. Wright is apparently unaware t'hat a movement is at present on foot to secure capital to open up a large coal area within eight miles of Westport, along the Westport-Reef-ton railway, and that the main Buller coal fields are believed to be in Mackley district, which would be worked by the same railway. A city pressman, a few years back cycled down Bdller road on a pouring wet day, and wrote lengthily condemning the, line. He appeared, from his writing, to have absolutely no knowledge of Mackley and otlher coal measures adjacent to the line, and which naturally are not observable to travellers by the road. It is asked whether Mr. Wright's authority is one of this stamp.