RAILWAY EXTENSIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 253, 24 October 1919, Page 8

RAILWAY EXTENSIONS.

ONLY ONE NEW LINE. AUCKLAND- BIG SHARE. (By Telegraph—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Railways Authorisation Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives to-night, the Minister of Public Works explaining proposals in regard to n number of the lines proposed in the measure. The most important authorisation is that of 30 miles on the North Auckland Main Trunk railway from the left bank of the Wairoa River to a connection (near Ngapuhi, with the existing line running to Kaikohe. Provision is also made for a deviation jof about four miles on the North Auckj land Trunk line, while on the North Island Main Trunk it is proposed to I authorise a light line or tramway of | about seven and a-half miles in length from Otorohanga along the right bank of the Waipa River to n good supply of metal. The Minister explained that this deviation really was for tlie.benefit of the whole line, as it was very difficult to obtain suitable metal in the neighbourhood of the main line. The bill also contains a proposal to authorise a branch line of about 14 \ miles to connect with the Kaihu Valley ! Railway, starting in Maungaru district, and running into Dargaville. Then there is an extension of the present Huntly-Rukcmiro line for about seven miles to a property purchased by the Government for the purpose of starting a State coal mine. The bill also provides for a deviation on the Main Trunk lino between Plimmerton and Paokakariki, in order that the line shall run round the seashore, a distance of about nine miles, and around a heavy grade inland over the present route. Another authorisation is the extension of the line from Opunake to a connection with the existing line at Moturon. a distance of thirty-five miles. On the. Midland line a deviation is authorised at Springfield, along the I north-eastern side of the existing line j which, he understood, would be a very I big improvement, as tbe State coal mine iat Point Elizabeth is nearly worked out. | and a new mine had been opened. It ! will be necessary to construct an extension of. the existing Grcymouth-Point Elizabeth railway, two miles fifty chains jin a northerly direction. I The only new line authorised is a | branch from Wairoa to Waikokopu, about 122 miles, "which, the Minister explained, I-was due to the necessity for providing a more efficient port than Wairoa. j THE YEAR'S EXPENDITURE. In answer to members the Minister remarked that if £000,000 were spent on I railways this year the Department could j lie doing very well, but he added: "It !is just a question of getting men to do i the work. If we want more than £000,- ---' 000, the money is available for us to use i"" ' "