RAILWAY EXTENSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 16, 19 January 1914, Page 7

RAILWAY EXTENSION.

THE WBCAHGASEI CQHJtIKCTIQW. ADVANTAGES OF WAIOTIRO JWOTION. PROTEST FROM THE MEMBER. The route of. the proposed new railway line connecting Whangarei with the North Island Trunk system has been the subject of considerable controversy in the districts likely to be traversed, and although not definitely announced, it was generally understood that the choice would be fixed on what is known as the Waiotiro junction, by "which the shortest and easiest connection could be made between the.Whangarei.section and the main line. According, however, to what the Prime "Minister stated be-! fore hie departure for Wellington yesterday, the route chosen is by way of the Tauraroa Valley, joining the North Auckland Trunk line several miles beyond Waiotiro. •Mγ. F. Mender, MJ\ for the district, has been strongly advocating the Waiotiro connection as being the best in the general interest of the travelling public. Discussing the question with a Pressman thie morning/* Mr. Marider declared that the Waiotiro junction would mean a saving of some seven miles of travelling between IWhangarei and Auckland, and that if the Tauriroa Vafley route is chosen the Hnp will have to isun round two sides of a triangle. The divergence, he explained, takes place in the vicinity of Maungakaramea, md in addition to the extra seven nrilee which passengers from Whangarei and the east coast line ■would have to travel, the route which the Premier indicates has been chosen will involve an additional construction work of at least two miles, which means an additional expenditure of over £20,000 said Mr. Mander. iHe has accordingly written to the Minister of Public Works to protest against the dropping of the *Waiotiro connection, and seeking an explanation of the reason.