SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 228, 20 January 1911, Page 7

SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK

EARLY COMPLETION' TOG ED. GOVERNMENT AUYE TO IMPORTANCE OF CNDEUTAKINC. Christchurch, January 17. A deputation waited on th* Hon. K. MoKeu/.ie. N[itiiwtcr for Public Works, today, ur«ing the early o«tiii]ili>!ion of the South Island Main Trunk railway. The ■ Minister, in reply, said tliat the scheme had always hem brought, prominently before the notice of the Government. The railway 'was recognised as one of the important main trunk lines of the country, land the Government was favorahly disposed towards it and would hasten its completion as rapi.lly as possible. When the Dealey end of the Midland railway was finished, about next Christmas | twelve months, more money would be 'available for the pushing on of the South Island Trunk railway. Regarding the nature of the country mentioned by previous speakers, he had failed to find these "large and extensive anas of land suitable for settlement." He did not follow the railway route through the Leda Valley, but from the information he had got he found that lands suitable for farms were not there. North of Kaikoura there was really nolhimr at all. The Kekerangu estate was oll'ered to the Government some time ago, and was then reported on as unsuitable for close settlement. There were 20,(1(K» acres of freehold and (>O,OOO acres of Crown land on the ranges at the hack. The Government did not anticipate much lvvemic from the surrounding country, but as a main trunk the railway no doubt would be useful for passenger purposes, but certainly not for carrying goods. The local traffic would also be Very light.

He did not admit that Kaikoura at present was cut oIT from the rest of the country. It already had a tri-weekly coach service north and south, and a nice little harbor with steamer communication almost daily. As far as Kaikoura was concerned the matter was one of very small importance. The whole area of Kaikoura was a matter of a few thousand acres of good land, the rest belli" sheep-grazing country. The (!oveinment had already decided, as part of tlio railway construction policy, that the line should be pushed on as fast as funds would permit.