WAIKATO-TAURANGA RAILWAY.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 6497, 25 September 1915, Page 6

WAIKATO-TAURANGA RAILWAY.

REPORT OF SURVEYOR.

Route 1 in 50 Possible.

A meeting of representatives of the Waikato-Tauranga Railway League was held at Matamata on Wednesday last, the following representatives of the various districts interested being present: —Messrs N. Johnston and Pohlen, Matamata; C. Neal, Omahine; Howie, Morritisvi-lie; Allan, Frankton Jnc.; Ayson, Okoroire; and B. C. ' Robbins and J. G. Green, Tauranga. i Apologies for absence were received ! from Messrs J. W. Ellis, Fnrr, and C Manning. Hamillun, and G. Gammon, : Tauranga. Mr Robbins was appointed Chairman |of the meeting. j The meeting had been called to conI sider the report of the surveyor appointed to inspect the country. The report was as follows: — Gentlemen,— Acting on instructions received from your Committee 1 have made an inspection of the country through which it is proposed to run a railway connecting the Waikato with Tauranga, and beg to report as follows: — The height at which a crossing of the main range of mountains can be elfected is unfortunately not to be gauged by the distance from the present railway, but is entirely dependent on the crossing of the Waiomou Valley. On the accompanying lithographs I have sketched two suggested routes through the Kakaho Valley as a means of reaching the main divide. The route coloured green is, in my opinion, unworkable, and need not be considered, as the distance from the Waiomou river to the main ridge is so short that the elevation at which the ridge could |be reasonably pierced could not be | attained. 1 will therefore deal with the route outlined in red. Once the j level of the low country is reached near the Selwyn school, it ia optional which station on the Rotorua line is ! made the junction. For shortness of J route I have adopted Hinuera, but i more detailed exploration may bring the crossing of the Waiomou ovsr to the North and a cheaper contraction be obtained to Matamata. I estimate that the distance from Hinuera to a point in the Kakaho Valley where a tunnel could be pierced to Copper Creek, would be approximately 17 miles. For nearly six miles of the route as sketched, practically no elevation would be obtained as the up-grade would have to. begin at the Waiomou crossing. The difference in height from the Waiomou stream crossing to the exit of tunnel in Copper Creek, is approximately 1255 feet. The tunnel as sketched is laid off for level driving, arid runs about 56 chains from surface to surface. The actual length of drive would of course be considerably reduced by open cuttings at the approaches, especially at the Northern end. I would suggest that the tunnel be driven on grade. This would of course increase the length to be driven, but the advantage of tunnel height gained-on the eastern side of trie range would fully compensate. The depth of tunnel below the lowest saddle is 160 feet. If my estimated distances are correct, and putting the tunnel on grade, a maximum grade of 1 in 50 can be obtained. By increasing the length of tunnel the main ridge could of course be pierced at a lower altitude, but without further exploration it is impossible to state if the advantages gained would compensate for the increased cost. In my opinion before deciding on a defintie route it is essential that a very considerable amount of exploration work should be dune. The limited time granted me only permitted a cursory examination of a comparatively small portion of the mountains, The time was further curtailed by rough wet weather, which in addition to making aneroid readings erratic and unreliable prohibited a great deal of detail work j which is necessary to obtain a correct estimate of distances and relative heights. For instance. There is a comparativaSy low saddle between the head watp.rj of the Arataha stream and the northern branch of the Kakaho straam, which I would like to have prospected. A route up the j Arataha and through this saddle may be found more advantageous than following round the Kakaho. 1 strongly recommend that the water-shed at the head of the northern branch of the Kakaho be thoroughly explored. It is my belief that the tributaries of the \Waiwhahangau .stream rise on the eastern slope of this water-shed, and possibly at a much lower altitude than Copper Creek. Such being the case it might he feasible to tunnel at a considerably lower level, thereby obtaining a shorter, and easier gradient. No prospecting at all has been done in this locality, and it would certainly be remiss not to give it a trial. It must be specially noted that beyond a limited width of say half a mile from the saddle marked 1805 feet to ns ar trig 808A no exploration at all has been done on the Tauranga (or eastern) side of tbe range.

Another route which may repay inspection would run up the Kakaho valley and pass to the south-west of trig 808 A..

For this exploration work I would suggest the employment of say two coumpetent bushmen. I believe that the best value would be obtained by employing two such men to locate the main divide aud blaze a track along same. They could then locate, where leading streams corns near this divide on say the west side. Having got these located the eastern side of the divide should then be explored to locate similar streams. Where streams are located-orf both sides of the divide within a reasonable- distance a line .should be blazed across. Discretion should be used as to depth of valleys so connected and this would be based on whether streams are separated by saddles or nob. After this work is done the services of an engineer could be obtained to inspect the positions so located and report to you re same. To have an engineer out while this preparatory work is being done is saddling your League with extra expense.

I beg leave to here express my appreciation of the services rendered by Messrs Ayson and Maunder, and to thank them for their untiring and willing assistance.

ROUTE THROUGH THE RAPARAPA VALLEY. 1 was further instructed by your committee to make an inspection of suggested route up the Raparapa stream, and understood that the locality had been explored and the route ir.arkud. The time allowed for this inspection was so limited and the spot previously selected as a camping ground so distant from the locality of the. work, that I tad little opportunity for fresh'prospecting. I do not consider that any useful exploration work has been done in this locality. . .

lias ucru uunc jii tujs. IULUUiy. . . . I was unable in the time to obtain sufficient data for a report, but the following notes on observations made by me will, I believe, be of service to you. There is very considerable fall in the lower reaches of the Raparapa stream up to what are known as the falls. The foot of these falls is approximately SCO feet above sea level. A series'of fall's then occur extending about a quarter of a mile totalling about 200 feet in height. The stream by then flattens out, and continues so for an estimated distance of between two a^d three miles. A series of rapids and small falls then start and run lor a considerable distance and 4he course crooked as it rounds some high spurs. It then enters a large basin running back towards the main divide. The grade on the.suggested route of railway as pointed out to me was to start from near the Kaimai road (to the north of the Raparapa stream) and to follow round .the long spur and up the j Raparapa stream to the foot of the lower falls, and tunnelling was to start from this point. Not having any reliable distances I do not know if this height could be attained. Assuming that it could be I cannot see the utility of such a tunnel or define where it would again reach the snrface. Certainly at no reasonable distance. On exploration it may be found that a line could be graded from the low country to the top of the lower falls (but I do not think the distance would allow this) and continued thence along the more level portion of the valley to the foot of the Upper falls. Even then considerable tunneling would be required to continue this route. The foregoing is merely an expression of opinion coupled with notes made during my hurried observations, and I trust will not be misconstrued into a report condemning the route. As before mentioned no useful prospecting work has been done in the locality, especially as regards the country round and position of the main divide. Should it be decided to make further exploration I would suggest that only a limited time be spent on the upper reaches of the Raparapa stream, snd that the party devote more time trying for a route more to the south. This route would follow the present one up to the Raparapa to below the lower falls, strike, through tbe spur on the west and continue round to the next large valley. This country is totally unexplored. I am, etc., J. A. JOHNSTON. To the Excutive Committee of the Waikato-Tauranga Railway League.

After considerable discussion Mr Pohlen moved and Mr J. G. Green seconded that Messrj Ayson, ' Ellis, Allan, and ths Chairman of the Frankton Chamber of Commerce, wait upon Mr. Johnston, discuss his report with him, and obtain an estimate of the cost of carrying out the further exploration work he recommends When that is obtained the interested bodies to be communicated with.—The motion was carried.

Accounts totalling £66 were passed for payment.

Mr Draper of Matamata and Mr Henry Miller of Hinuera were added to the Committee. <:,