LIGHT RAILWAY LINES.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1921, Page 6

LIGHT RAILWAY LINES.

WAIKATO TO WEST COAST. FIFTY-SEVEN MILE TRACK. Further particulars of the scheme for building light railway lines from Kawhia by an Australian firm have been given by Mr. 11. D. Dansey, who is handling the engineering side of the project for the Waikato-West Coast, Light Rail way Boa rd. The line will run in the first place from Frankton to Moerangi, a distance of 20 miles. Just prior to this pojnt it runs into the Waitetuna Galley, cutting the ridge with an 18-chain tunnel. From that point a branch connects with Raglan and its deep-water harbor, a distance of 34 miles from Frankton. Another branch goes to Kawhia, running along the Waitetuna Valley. Seven miles from Moerangi it cuts j through a dividing ridge by a tunnel about 10 chains in length. Thence it reaches Kawhia, close to the harbor, by proceeding along the valley of the Oparua River from the tunnel mouth. The distance from Moerangi to Kawhia makes the length of the whole line 57 miles over all. The line crosses, the Waipa River 10 miles from Frantcton. This will be the largest bridge on the route, and the only one of any magnitude. It is proposed to run a normal gauge railway of light construction from Frankton to the junction at Moerangi, and from there to have narrow-gauge feeders connecting* with Raglan and Kawhia. The undertaking by the Australian firm, Mr. Dansey explained, will include station buildings, engine -sheds, and all other accessories. When their work is completed the line will be ready to operate. It is estimated that the railway will be operating in two and a half years, connecting up Kawhia and Raglan with Hamilton. The Australian firm proposes to make the fullest use of mechanical appliances in construction work, thus hoping to obviate, as far as possible the question, of obtaining sufficient labor. With regard to the potentialities of the country to be traversed, Mr. Dansey states that sixteen miles from Frankton the line will tap mountains of limestone of very rich quality. A few miles further on it will make available a practically unlimited supply of blue metal suitable for reading purposes. On the Kawhia branch it will run along the Waitetuna Valley, touching a rich milling area, carrying valuable timber, largely rimu. It will also tap deposits of blue metal suitable for reading purposes. country between Frankton and Moerangi is very rich and fertile, and already is a densely .settled farming area. It is estimated that the timber to be made available will provide traffic more than sufficient to pay the whole cost of construction. Timber experts estimate that the Waikato alone can absorb 10,000,000 feet of timber annually, and this supply is within 25 miles of Hamilton. The line will also run through a Government block of settlement land, 40,000 acres in extent, at present practically inaccessible. It is also held that this railway, working in co-ordination with the shipping enterprises on the Waikato, must develop river traffic to a very considerable extent. The Te Awamutu—Pirongia line of light railway, about nine miles in length, will be carried out on the same basics as the Waikato—-West Coast light line. It will be necessary in the case of both schemes for the rating areas over which the boards are have authority to be