MORE RAILWAYS WANTED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 128, 21 November 1911, Page 5

MORE RAILWAYS WANTED.

OI'T.XING UP WANGAXUFS BACK COUNTRY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, Last Night. The project to open up the back country of Wanganui by means of a railway to Raetihi has lately been actively revived here by the Chamber of Commerce. The importance of the projected line has long been recognised, for some excellent country would be opened up, and 70 miles of line would not be expensive to make. Three years ago Sir Win: Hall-Jones, when Minister of Public Works, promised to have a survey made when an offieiM was available, but his successor repudiated the promise. Now that £15,000 has been- placed on the estimates for a portion of the route, that from the Main Trunk to Raetihi, an additional incentive has been given to the proposal. This is especially so as the Government electrical expert (Mr. Parry) is reporting on the possibility of electrifving the Main Trunk-Raetihi line. There are -ome remarkably fine falls on the Mangawhero river on the proposed route. This source for electric jower stood second in the North Tslanu among the recommendations by the late Mr. T. Hay, Government engineer. The Government is urged to allow Mr. Parrv to report on the possibility of electrifying the whole line to Wanganui. The Chamber also asks the Government to fulfil at once the promise made three years ago bv the Minister of Public Works and have a survey made.