OPUNAKE RAILWAY COMMISSION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 280, 23 May 1912, Page 4

OPUNAKE RAILWAY COMMISSION

SITTING AT NEW PLYMOUTH. The Opunakc Railway Commission sat at the J own iJall, New Plymouth, yeauii :ollowing brief summary ol the evidence given before the Commissioners was supplied by the secretary: Captain G. liolford, harbormaster gave information regarding harbor improvement works in progress at New Plymouth, and submitted drawings illustrating berthing and mooring proposals. Mr. Newton King, member of New Plymouth Harbor Board, read a statement and submitted drawings describing the efforts of the Harbor Board to improve the berthing accommodation at the port. The Board was carrying out the works at the wharves asked for by the shipping companies who proposed to send their large steamers to the port. Mr. S. W. Shaw, president of th# Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, put in a statement of last year's exports te foreign ports from Moturoa and Waitara respectively. He claimed that New Plymouth was the natural outlet and would shortly be the shipping port to serve practically the whole of Taranaki from Mokau, Taumarunui, and portion of the Waimate Plains. He advocated the adoption of the Stratford route, also the construction of a railway via Okato towards Opunake. Mr. C. S. Rennell, .secretary of the New Plymouth Harbor Board, gave particulars of the Board's charges for ships visiting the port. Mr. D. McAllum, member of the Taranaki County Council, spoke in favor oi a tramway from New Plymouth to Opunake. '

Mr. Michael Fleming, of , Pungarehu, described the quantity and nature of inward and outward traffic from New Plymouth to Pungarehu. Arthur Chapman, dairy farmer Rahotn, described the output of the' Rahotu dairy factory and the capacity of the land in that locality. Mr. T. P. Hughson, storekeeper, Rahotu, supported the request for direct connection between New Plymouth a»d his district.

Mr. Alexander Brown, Waipuku, ex* pressed the opinion that most of the land in Taranaki could he made much more productive bv cultivation.

Mr. Donald K. Morrison put in a statement regarding the present capacity and future possibilities of the Moturoa freezing works. Mr. Adlam, of Oakura, advocated a line along the West Coast road, or, in the alternative, that the Government should assist in the maintenance of the road.

Mr. Blanchard, member of St. Aubyn Town Roard. advocated the construction of a railway by the West Coast to Opunake.

Mr. W. R. Wright, of Rahotu, supported the request for a direct railwav from Moturoa to Opunake, which would serve sixteen existing factories down to Otakelio.

Mr. John Skinner, surveyor, spoke of the nature of the country to be traversed by n railway between New Plymouth and Opunake. Mr. Okey, M.P., thanked the Commissioners for the careful manner in which they had carried out their labors in New Plymouth.

The Commission adjourned at 5 p.m., to meet at Okato at 10 a.m. to-day. In the afternoon the Commissioners inspected the New Plymouth harbor and breakwater and the Moturoa freezing works.