NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 254, 24 October 1907, Page 6

NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

THE QUESTION OF ROUTE. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Minister for Public Works was asked hy the member for Marsden (Mr Mander) whether he would be guided by the engireer-in-chief's report on the North Auckland railway line, from Kaiwaka to McCarroll's Gap, and resent the "wire-pulling" of any section of the community to make extensive detours, thereby increasing the mileage on all the settlers farther north for all time to come. The Hon. Jas. McGowan, in reply, stated that the route referred to had been selected by the engineers of the Department after careful exploration and examination, and no sufficient reason had yet been given for the adoption of the suggested alternative route. Mr Mander said that until he received a copy of the report, which contained the following clause:—"From Wellsford to Maungaturoto, a distance of about 22 miles, is the section of the route which is causing much agitation," he was not aware that there was an agitation from one section of the community to divert the line in a certain direction. He was entirely opposed to any interference with the engineers in the matter. He sympathised with the people of Paparoa, who certainly had very bad roads, but it would be most improper to put a great curve on the trunk line in order to tap Paparoa or any other district. The more sensible course in regard to such districts would be to run a branch line down to them. Mr Stallworthy denied that there had been any "wire-pulling." So far as his previous questions were concerned, he spoke on behalf of those who knew that the engineer had not gone over the ground on which he reported. - They wished the Minister to inspect the country himself. He did not ask that they should go against the engineer, but he urged that the engineer should fully go over the route before reporting on it. The engineer had practically confessed that he had viewed the country from the top of a hill, and that he did not think it necessary to go over the route. Mr Mander said he know the contour of the country, and in his opinion the engineer had chosen the right route. In the event of the report of the engineer being departed from there would be a very strong agitation.