RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT IN WAIRARAPA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9173, 22 August 1908, Page 5

RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT IN WAIRARAPA.

DISCUSSION AT THE CHAMBER OP COMMERCE. THE MASTERTON-PONGAROA-WAIPUKURAU ROUTE. "PERSISTENT AGITATION" WANTED. At the meeting of the Council of the Masterton Chamber of Commerce yesterday, the Chairman (Mr T. G. Mason) outlined the result of the recent visit deputation to the Minister of Railways in connection with the question of opening up a light-line railway between Masterton and Waipukurau via Pongaroa. Mr Mason said there was no doubt that persistent agitation was now what was wanted to further this important object, and a great point should be made of the possibilities for develo. ing a large tract of valuable country, which could carry a big population. He suggested that Mr Daniell might be induced tj again take the matter up, that gentleman having been one of the most energetic movers in previous efforts made on the same lines. A branch of the Railway League might be formed at Masterton. Mr Ewington said the deputation deserved hearty congratulation on the success achieved by it. He had not himself anticipated that such a favourable reply would be receheJ. Mr C. E. Daniell endorsed theso remarks, and agreed with the Chairman that the prospects for increased settlement and the important area and nature of the country should be the lines on which any further agitation should be based. The speaker's son had accompanied Mr Dobson on hi 3 survey of the proposed line, plans and details of which were now | in his (Mr Daniell's) possession. Mr Eli Smith had also particulars of interest concerning the route surveyed, and the work already accomplished. Mr Daniell thought it would bo a good idea to offer to the authorities any local iniormation possessed which might prove of value. Roferring to the matter of railway development, generally Mr Daniell said that if a branch of the League were formed at Masterton it should oppose the making of a railway from Featherston to Martinborough, hut should advocate instead the continuation on to Martinborough of the Greytcwn branch line. The reason for such a course was that the Rimutaka deviation—which ultimately must come- would stand a big risk of being long postponed if Featherston were made the starting point of the Martinborough branch line, for the reason that Woodside wis the starting point of the deviation from the north end. It was also obvious that so far as this end of the valley is concerned it would mean a shorter route by several miles if the Greytown line were continued on in preference to a Mar-tinborough-Featherston branch. Mr Daniell affirmed that the whole question of railway development in and around the Wairarapa and the districts flanking it on the north opened a wide field of discussion as to routes. There was the suggestion, for example, that the Masfcprton-Waipukurau route might t/ike a route which, starting from Masterton, would link up the Cashpoint 'seaboard, via Weraite, and the Whareama Valley, thence on '.c Pt.ngaroa and the north em termii.us. On the motion of Mr Danie'l, second d by Mr Ewington, it was resolved to offer to the Government any information available in Masterton bearing on the subject of the proposed Masterton-Pongaroa-Waipuku-*au line.