HAMILTON TO WEST COAST.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 4, 5 January 1920, Page 4

HAMILTON TO WEST COAST.

THE LIGHT RAILWAY SYSTEM. A PROGRESSIVE UIOVEMEIvT. TO DEVELOP GREAT AREA. For long enough the idea of running & light railway from Hamilton, the central town of the Waikato, to the Western Coast at Raglan and Kawhia, has been simmering in the brains <jf iShe many people who are out for the progress and more rapid development of the Waikato. This notion had its birth with the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, and-as long as six months ago the president of that body, and also Mr. J. A. Young, M.P. for the Waikato, pointed out that there -tob not a single mile > of railway.in the Waikato through all 'that vast area that lies to the west of the Main Trunk line ia the South Auckland province. Even.at that time the possibilities of constructing a light line from Hamilton to the coast, such as were so useful in France and Belgium during the late war, was freely canvassed, and to-day interest in this proposal,las grown, so greatly that if legislative authority can be obtained to penetrate ihis district with a light line of narrow gauge it will almost surely foe done: 1 "-'"' r **rtmoit*i sidiui-ißa The actual basis of the proposal is to build a- light line suitable for carrying passengers and merchandise from the Main Trunk at Pranktonto Karamu, twelve miles out. Here the rail-will branch to Kaglan on the coast, and. the other line will be taken" from Karamu. to Kawhia, which is a few miles south \oi Baglan. Both these places have excellent harbours. Raglan is a fine scenic und shooting centre, and Kawhia is the centre of the King Country. ' The engineers for the proposed line, Captains H. D. Dansey, D. Bruce and HWorley, are satisfied that tie construction irould present no insurmountable difficulties, and when completed, the line would pay by .the carriage of lime, 'fish, coal and timber, besides genera! goods and passengers. At Karamu there is already a lime works, while an 'undeveloped coal seam lies near Whatawhata. Thie coal'is now being used by neighbouring settlers for household purposes. The line to Kawhia would tap the famous Moerangi Block, which contains 40,000 acres of rich pastoral land. The coat of ■the line has been estimated ait £1,400 a mile, as against f4,000 per mile for the standard gauge, and Captain Daneey has stated that there is a great- supply of light railway material lying idle in ■France and Flanders, and some of this could no doubt be secured. Kawhia Harbour is six miles by twelve, and permits vessels drawing thirty feet of water to berth at the present wharf, while the Raglan harbour is land-locked and surrounded by the Waingaro Hot Springs, the famous Bridal Veil Falls, and many other beautiful scenes. Kawhia i 3 specially adapted to become a great port, and linking it with Hamilton by rail will hasten the day.