MASTERTON-PONGAROA-WAIPUKURAU RAILWAY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9045, 21 March 1908, Page 7

MASTERTON-PONGAROA-WAI-PUKURAU RAILWAY.

.AGAIN BEFORE CHAMBER *% 4 OP COMMERCE.

PEOPLE MOVING. Towards the latter end of last year the question of linking up the extensive back country between Masterton and Waipukurau with a light-line railway, to have its centra! point about Pongaroa, was prominently beiore the local Chamber of Commerce, and thsy resolved to urge upon the league formed at Pongaroa to promote the scheme the advisability -of adhering to Waipukurau as the northern terminus of the line, as the .League were somewhat indignant at the apathy of residents the very important matter, and ukexe suggesting transferring the •fltyroposad terminus to Dannevirke. ** The Chamber asked the League to once more endeavour to wake up the Waipukurau people to a sense of the importance to them of the proposal, ■and this the Committee did, with the result that yesterday a copy of a Waipukurau newspaper of January 31st was received by the Chamber, and it contains details of an important meeting held at Waipukurau m •connection with the proposed railway. The chief speaker at the meeting ■was a Mr Chambers, an influential resident of Waipukurau, who occupied the chair, and in his remarks ' *said the people of this part of the district had been approached by the Pongaroa settlers to join the Xeague and to help them to get thwlailway constructed from Mas■terjon through Pongaroa, and on to Waipukurau, it being contended that this "was the natural outlet. He (Mr Chambers) said the proposed railway would tap some excellent land in the Hawke's Bay province, besides giving an outlet to settlers who had laboured under the disadvantage fur years of having desperately bad roads, with no material in the vicinity to make them better. The Town Board had been approached, it was stated, to take this matter in hand, and he had carefully considered thu question before deciding to have anything to do with the movement, but h 3 was now convinced that it would be in the best interests of the town were the line made. The line would join jin with the main line at Hatuma, Jgut this would not affect the position Waipukurau, as it would be the changing centre. He (the chairman) said he, quite realised that there was ■a slight chance of getting the railway just now, as Sir Joseph Ward declared that no new lines would be •considered until the Main Trunk Line was though, but it was advisable that they should be in the field early. It •would then be amongst railways that ■would be considered first, fie said he had received a letter from the secretary of the executive committee of •the League, conveying the reply from Mr Blow, Government engineer, as to what had been done in the matter of the proposed railway, in which it was stated that the proposed route Jiad been gone over, but that nothing further could be done in the matter ■until Parliament decided to proceed. .Mr Chambers explained the working the League, and stated that the HKdea was to'icontinue the agitation. .He recommended those present to form themselves into a branch league, and throw their lot in with the Masterton and Pongaroa people. The chairman then invited those present for an expression of opinion, i Other speakers were strongly in favour of the matter being taken up at Waipukurau, and a strong provisional committee was get up to work the district. ""he Chamber of Commerce instructed the Secretary to write to the Leage expressing pleasure at the activity of the Waipukurau people, •and offering to co-operate with them in any proposition they might put .forward for the benefit of the scheme.