PROPOSED RAILWAY ROUTE TO WEBER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8275, 31 October 1906, Page 7

PROPOSED RAILWAY ROUTE TO WEBER.

— Tbe question of the practicability of the proposed railway route to Weoer baa been before tha Chamber of Commerce for some time, says the Ekefcahuoa Express. When the recent deputation from that body went to Wellington re Smith's line it waited upon the Minister for Railways, and brought under bis notice a practicable route which might be taken from Eketahuna, and which would be far less expensive than the proposed route from Masterton. The Minister promised to file any particulars which might be snpolfed, and while not holding uut any hope for the immediate construction of the lice, promised that tha claims, should receive consideration whenever the matter was deals with. To this end a party, composed of members of the Chamber, recently went over the ground fortfte purpose of picking the easiest track for the purpose. The track inspected leaves the trunk line at Newnan, striking the Matcakahi 'road with an almost level grade. It travdises the Makakabi road to the back comer of AndeTHon's section. (From five to six chains above this it strikes across Mr Rodney's property, through a fairly open valley, the grade the whole way from Newman being very easy. The construction of this length Gf line would be about similar to the trunk line between Newman and Hukanui, and tne distance is about 3y% miles. Emerging from Mr Rodney's on to the Central road, a level run is obtained down the valley, in which the road runs to the Mangaone Road, a distance of about 1y 2 mile. A tarn is then made up tbe road for a distance of about one mile, still with a level grade, when the route strikes across Mr Edwards' property. A saddle has here to be negotiated, which could be got through either by a short tunnel or by about a 30ft throughontting with about 20ft filling on either side. The distance through Mr Edwards' property from the Mangaone to the Tawataia Road is at the outside half a mile. Striking the Tawataia Koad a level ruu is secured to Mr .Dennis' property, about 1% mile, when the route branches off on the Peep-o'-Day road and runs up another valley, a practically leve' run and one on which a line could be easily oonstruated. This runs for a distance of about miles, wnen the largest hill on tfce route is encountered, but it is one which oould easily be tunnelled. The tunnel would bring the line out on to the Alfredton Road near Barton's Line, from whence there is a level run again of about \V 2 miles into Alfredton. The vvhoie of this route appears to be practicable and the line should be easy of construction.