EAST COAST RAILWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 43, 19 February 1909, Page 6

EAST COAST RAILWAY.

QUESTION OF ROUTE. AN IMPORTANT POINT. S&T Telegraph. — Own Reporter.) DARGAVILLE, Thursday.. Mr Holmes, Engineer in Chief of the Public Works Department, informed mc to-day that the permanent survey of the railway across the Piako swamp is almost completed, and it is interesting to note that, according to the line marked out, the route of the East Coast railwaj* via Paeroa, and across the swamp to Pokeno, would be practically a direct line from Opotiki to Pokeno. From this observation, it may be gathered that a very strong lever has been placed in the hands of the Tauranga, Katikati, Waihi, and Paeroa people in their advocacy of the East Coast Main Trunk railway taking the course actually fixed for it by nature, and marked out by the Government surveyors. No engineering difficulties, I understand, would be encountered in its construction by that route, and it is only to be expected that when such a direct line can be obtained without any curving or twisting, the local bodies of Katikati, Waihi, and Paeroa will take full advantage of the forthcoming visit of the Minister to Waihi and the East Coast, and press the matter, still further, so that if the route is definitely fixed by Parliament, authority can be given for a commencement of works, and the requisite relief given to unemployed miners as recently suggested at Waihi. ROTORUA-GISBORNE ROUTE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.! ROTORUA, Thursday. The Prime Minister, in reply to a deputation which waited upon him regarding Rotorua-Gisborne railway route, said a flying survey could not be made, as the line was not authorised from Rotorua, the only part authorised being that between J Gisborne and Motu. In extending the railway system attention would be paid to the needs of settlement, and lines i would not skirt the coast where it could j be avoided.