EAST COAST RAILWAY
MINISTER PROMISES ACTIVITY. HYDRO-ELECTRIC UNDER '- TAKINGS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. -ru rr ~ Na P ier > Last Night. The Hon. R. Mackenzie arrived in Napier on Saturday night from Gisborne, via Wairoa, and received several deputations. In connection with the East Coast railway, he said that before the Napier end could be started, it would have to be authorised by Parliament, and money vote to carry it on. Meanwhile, it was proposed to start a branch of the Public Works Department at Napier, and to send an engineer here to do preliminary work. The whole railway ought to be completed in ten years. The Government, continued the Minister, had fully made up their minds that the main trunk lines of the Dominion ought to be finished as soon aa possible, and there was no reason why this particular line should not be pushed on energetically. As soon as Parliawent provided the necessary funds a start would be made at the Napier end. He had been very pleased with the country lie came through, which waa much better than he had understood it to be. Mr. Nelson waited on the Minister on behalf of Napier and Hastings relative to the Waikaremoana hydro-electric scheme, and other speakers also urged its claims. Mr. Mackenzie said the Government was quite familiar with all the reports. If Chambers of Commerce gpt to werk and show what power thev are prepared to take and what they would pay for it, they could then talk from a business point of view. If the chambers decided to take 3000 horse power, it would be a very good start, and if it could be shown that the district would take 8000 horse power at £8 per h.p., then they could make a deal. The development of hydro-electric power was a national undertaking, and the Government did not intend to let anyone step in so that they would have to buy private persons out afterwards. ]f local bodies guaranteed to take a certain amount of power at a given rate it was pretty safe to reckon that the Government would proceed with the work at Waikaremoana.
Other deputations waited on the Minister on purely local matters. The Minister leaves for Wellington tomorrow morning.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19110327.2.51
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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 262, 27 March 1911, Page 5
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374EAST COAST RAILWAY Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 262, 27 March 1911, Page 5
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