RAIL TO KAWHIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 280, 23 November 1920, Page 8

RAIL TO KAWHIA.

IMPORTANT DISTRICT PROJECT. (Prom Our Own Correspondent.) TK AWA-MUTU, Monday. The projected formation of a standard gausre railway to connect Ka-whia with tho Main Trunk, which propoaa.l has lain dormant since the outbrea-K of war, has reientlv boon revived, and the T»- Awamutu Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction "waih the lvawhia Chamber of Ccninir-rce and the Pirongia Railway League, arc now pursuing an active policy. In the years preceding the war the Public Worke Department carried out an exploration survey of this locality, and out of four possibk- routes it has been announced th-at Jtlu- one junctioning with the Main Trunk near Te ! Kawa has been regarded as the most advantageous. From the blue print, allowing the .heights, etc, of this route, which has been forwarded to the local Chamber of C-ommerce by the Department, it is clear that this route posi setkscs siibrtajitial advantagce in the i matter of grades and mileage over [either the suggested route to Fra-nkton, to KioKio, or to Ilangatiki. It is held that the time is opportune to begin organisation in preparation for the ultimate building of a railwuy wiiidi will I become a further section in ilfe Q&st to ■ AVcst Coast system. Already the central section, from Tc Awamntu to Puta.ruru, is in progress, and thia wiH connect as far as Rotonia- From tha.t point i« will be. only a matter of time when the system will reach, the East Ooast. No attempt will be made to interfere with the Kawhia-Frankton narrowgauge railway proposal, but it is felt by all the progressive m«n in the disvtrict that th%? time Ls opportune to push forward the claims for a standard-ffaiige line, which would connect the harbour with thp enormous inland territory for which Kawhia ie the natural and nearest port. A factor having a considerable bearing on the matter is the development of the coal areas on earih side of the Hauturu ranges, which hav o to be piercpfi in the couree of the lines construction. Coal deposits have been located in both vaHcys leading up to the tunnel termini, a.nd there is every possibility of scanw extending far into the ra-npe. At the requ-est of the Kawhia Chamber of Commerce the Minister of Mince has promised a -coJog,cal survey of the area in question with the object of locating tire position a-nd extent of tie deposits. With a view to effecting concerted action in furthering the scheme, a conference win be Md at Kaw ' h f a co o n •Saturday, when members of the Te' Awamutu Chamber of Commerce will be present.