THE CAMBRIDGE BRANCH LINE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1233, 25 May 1880, Page 2

THE CAMBRIDGE BRANCH LINE.

The following letter has been addressed by the Chairman of the Hamilton District Board to the Railway Commissioners :—: — Hamilton, May 20, 1880. The Honorable the Commissioner* for Public Works. , Gentlemen. — I am directed by the Hamilton District Highway Board to urge, on their behalf, the claims of the Cambridge district to a branch railway to that place, via Rukuhia and Narrows bridge ; as by this route it would be the means of allowing a large number of settlers in the Hamilton district obtaining access to the railway, who have hitherto been completely isolated trom it, thouph only divided by one mile of impassable swamp : we can see the trains pass in front of our properties within two miles, but arc compelled to take our produce seven or eight miles by dray road before we can get to a station. The dray road laid off to Rukuhia has been ditched on both iides for the last six years ; the ditches in most parts have been dug to a depth of from 8 to 14 feet, and now the road will scarcely carry a horse, so deep is the swamp. With the limited means at the disposal of any Highway 'Board it is impossible to make a dray road to this station. A bum of money has been promised by the. Government for this w olk, but would not be needed if the line of railway be adopted. " I also wish to point out that this line would be the means of draining the main line, as this branch starts from a good outt.ill at the back ot the racecourse. In any case it will be necessary to make a large drain in this direction, the cost of same, with cost of dray road, would exceed the cost of a railway. I am requested further to rcspcctfnlly bring before your notice the fact that the whole ot the land along this line has been settled for many years, and is some of the best land in the province of Auckland, and if once tapped would increase the railway traffic fiom Waikato by at least 50 per cent. - The cost of construction has been estimated to be one of the cheapest in the colony, it will also be the means of giving to the people of Cambridge railway communication at least a jear or a year and a half .sooner than the other proposed line, which possesses none of the adxantages mentioned on behalf of the Rukuhia branch. I am also requested to bring under your notice the fact that this line will'be Auckland and Cambridge, whereas the other will be Thames and Cambridge. — I am, &c, Samull SrLKti:, Chairman Hamilton District Hoard.