NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 31, 5 February 1910, Page 9

NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In the memorial to the Hon. the Prime Minister, from Auckland citizens, Tβ the route of the North Auckland railway, which appeared in the newspapers, clause (J reads as follower—"That , the statement of the District Engineer, that there is more slipping ground on the eastern than on the western route, is, in the opinion of your memorialists, and all others who know the ground, an extraordinary statement, which, on investigation, cannot be substantiated." 1 wish now, under the special authority of the Hon. the Minister in charge of the Department, to pablvly contradict this ■misstatement, which was not the evidenc3 given by mc. My evidence on the point referred to, as it wns given before the Committee, iin.l as it will appear on the Parliamentary papers when printed, was:—"There is more slip ground on the western route than on the eastern route." —I am, etc., J. A. WILSON, District Engineer.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The letter by Mr. J. Hudson, appearing in Wednesday's "Starj" characterises the request for further consideration of the route question as eenseless, and makes insinuations as to the motives of those asking for it. One can only refer him to the "Star" leader of January 27 th. There he will find the position clearly put. It says: "When the engi-neer-in-chief admits that the comparative estimates for the rival routes are only a rough guess, and that the actual cost might be a thousand or two a mile, more or less, there is surely urgent need for collecting more detailed information on these points before we are committed irrevocably to one route or the other. In view of all this, we think that the North Auckland League is justified in advising the Government not to proceed with the work on the Young's Point deviation till the facts are completely ascertained." The article further urges that the Royal Commission to be set up should inquire carefully into all proposed deviations.—l am, etc., OIVIS.