RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9173, 24 August 1908, Page 4

RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT.

The important subject of district railway development is going to be a matter which will agitato this com munity very considerably in the course of a year or two—that is, if the Government is in earnest about opening up the valuable back country which the Masterton-Waipukurau loop line proposes to traverse. The suggestion made by Mr C. E. Daniell to the Council of the Chamber of Commerce, that the Castlepoint staboard might be linked up is one worthy of investigation, and if feasible will greatly enhance the importance of the line, and histen its consummation. The future success of the movement depends very much on the case that can be made out in favour of the line tapping .country too remote from the present line of railway for the latter to be of any material benefit. The near proximity of the proposed route surveyed by Mr Dubs'in and the main line practically killed the scheme, when it was previously agitated for. The whole

que3tion is of such very grept moment to Masterton that ttiere should be no difficulty whatever in forming a strong local branch of the Wui-pukurau-Pongaroa-Masterton League. The Gi3borne and Napier people are "putting in an oar" for a Napier-Gisborne-Auckland line, and it will doubtless be the same old thin^—the loudest "barrackers" will get the best results. Masterton should take the hint.