OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 220, 17 March 1914, Page 7

OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

MUST BE PUSHED ON. DISCUSSION BY HARBOR BOARD. At the meeting of the |Jew Plymouth Harbor Board yesterday, the question of the Opunake railway and its bearing on Moturoa as a port for dairy produce, was the subject of a short discussion, which, after a resolution by Mr. D. !. Hughes and an amendmeift by Mr. C_ A. Wilkinson, was held over until next meeting, owing to the pressure of other important business. Mr. Hughes moved, in accordance witu. his notice of motion at last meeting, as follows:—"That the Minister for Public Works be written to pointing oul the necessity for taking into consideration, when determining the route of the Opunake railway, the provision this Board is making for the direct shipping of wool and dairy produce to the world's markets. The Board also draws attention to Mr. Cuddie's circular commenting on the transhipping and earning of dairy produce as detrimentally affecting its quality. Furthermore, that the Board wishes to point out that a line from Moturoa via Opunake to the main line, according to the Railway Commissioners' report, Svill relieve the r.oading problem, abolish toll gates, cheapen imports and exports and develop a district that has hitherto been practically isolated."

Mr. Wilkinson was against the resolution to some extent, because it introduced the battle of routes, which was less desirable than a rapid pushing on of the railway by any route. He pointed out that Huphes' route was in opposition to that already reserved from Opunake to the main line, which .had been promised to settlers for 30 years. He also disagreed with that portion of the resolution referring to toligates. He moved as an amendment: "That this Board expresses its appreciation of the action of the Government .in placing on the Estimates £OO,OOO for the Taranaki-Auckland Main Trunk line, and the sum of £15,000 for the Opunake line, connecting with the main line; and begs to point out that the vigorous prosecution of these two line* is of the utmost importance to the Taranaki provincial district: also that the New Plymouth harboi is now able to berth steamers drawing 22 feet, and in tile ne;ir future will be in a position to berth the largest steamers trading to New Zealand; that the extension of tiie railway system from Moturoa along the coast to Opunake is a matter to which the Government should give its earnest, attention, especially as the preliminary survey work has just boon completed and the necessary data is now available " Mr. Mitx agreed with tie amendment, and Mr. Bellringer expressed a desire to see it more definite on certain points. hinally the further consideration of the matter was deferred till the next meeting of the Board.