AUCKLAND'S CLAIMS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 290, 1 September 1908, Page 9

AUCKLAND'S CLAIMS.

SIX RAILWAYS WANTED. A STRONG DEPUTATION. The claims of Auckland in regard to railway construction wero placed before the Minister for Public Works (Hon. W r . HallJones) yesterday by a deputation from tho Auckland Railways League, and representatives of various other parts of the province. Tho deputation consisted of Messrs. G. L. Pcacocke (chairman of tho Auckland Railways League), T. Coates (representing Maungaturoto), F.. Clark (Kaiwaka), Edwin Harding (Dargavillo), Jack and J. D. M'Konzie (Whangarei), Andrew 801 l (Auckland), Newtli (Mayor of Wailii), Jos. Carroll (Opotiki and Whakatane), Foster (Wailii and Katikati), J. Hogg (Tauranga), Hon. Capt. Tucker, M.L.C. (Gisborne), and Hon. W. W. M'Cardle, M.L.C. (Kawhia). Tho deputation was introduced by Mr. A. Kidd, M.P., and the following members were also present:—Messrs. Baume, Poole, Alison, Bollard, Lang, Mander, Stallworthy, Houston, Lawry, Poland, Herries, Jennings, Ngata, Hcke, M.P.'s, and Hon. Major Harris, M.L.C. Apologies were received for tho absence of Messrs. Massey and Greenslade. Mr. Pcacocke said that now that the North Island Main Trunk line was completed, the opportunity was a good one for putting forward tho claims of other important lines. Speaking of the North of Auckland line, he referred to tho slow rato of progress made until of late years. During the past few years tho Government had shown an energy and heartiness in regard to this line which had been very much appreciated by tho settlers,_ What tho leaguo desired, •rfas that the lino' should bo completed as soon as possible tp ilaungaturoto. Tl)ey urged this point as tho immediato objective, be? causo tho line, on reaching there, would tap a large area of surrounding' country, and would undoubtedly at once show a great increase in revenue. He also referred to tho present official namo of this line. It was termed the "Helensville Northward line," but as it was part of tho Main Trunk system of tho island, and as the Main Trunk was new practically completed, ho considered that it should now bo termed tho "Northern Main Trunk." There was also tho East Coast railway, which was of as much importance as the North of, Auckland lino. Those lines, ho urged, wero of importance, not only to Auckland, but to tho Dominion as a whole. They wero, in fact, national works. He claimed that tho lines he had just referred to wore really national works, which would assist genuine settlement, and pay from their initiation. " Ho asked that at least £100,000 should bo allocated this year for tho North of Auckland line, and also that provision be mado for pushing on tho working surveys beyond Maungaturoto to tlio northernmost point of tho authorised line. Trial surveys should also bo pushed on from that point as far as Omapero. Ho also spoke of the importance of completing tho Whangarei-Kawakawa connection, and of pushing on tho East Coast line. He referred also to tho proposed short-cut from Paoroa to Pokeno as an essential part of tho East Coast connection. Mr. Bell urged that tho Governmont should raiso a special loan of a million for the East Coast railway, spread over threo years, and ear-mark it so that it should not bo divertod to other purposes, such as tho snagging of rivers or tho purchase of Na T tivo lands. Mr. Hall-Jones (laughing)': You ought to bo Minister for Public Works. Mr. Jennings urged the claims of consideration being given to tho settlers affected by tho Stratford-Ongaruo railway, which, ho said, should bo started- from the northern end with tho least possiblo delay. THE MINISTER'S REPLY. ■ Sir. Hall-.Toncs, m replying to these and other speakers, who occupied in all about an hour and a lijilf, said ho supposed they recognised that tliey had mentioned six different linos, viz., the North Auckland, East Coast, tho Pokeno-l'acroa (Mr. Herries: That's part of the East Coast lino), Strat-fprd-Ongarue, Whangarei-Kawakawa, and tho Kawhia lines. 111 - . 'Kidd: And there's tlio Waiuku line 1 , Mr. Hall-Jones: "Yes, in the absence of Mr. Massey, I suppose I must mention tho Waiuku lino. Had ho been here wo would liavo heard something about it." . As to tho namo of tho North Auckland line, he was pleased to inform them that after this year this lino would bo designated the "North Auckland Main Trunk." (Hoar, hear.) Referring to the requests of the deputation, he said that where they did not have railway communication it was only natural that agitations for such works should go on. When one looked at a map of the Auckland province it was at once evident that there was yet a great deal of work to be done. Tliero was a great tract of country without any railway at all, and lie might say that tho more lie saw of that part of the Dominion tho more ho was pleased with it. When he mado his tour from Waihi_ through Katikati, Tauranga, and To Puke, in 1906, he was more than pleased with the class of country, through which ho travelled. He could also say tho samo of tho country north of Auckland. When, however, they spoke of six lines of railways, they raised considerations which meant a great deal financially. He had'deputations coming from all other parts of Now Zealand, and urging upon him tho importance of lines in their districts. They would urge, as was being urged on, behalf of tho Auckland railways, that all these lines would bo payable, and would bo a great aid to settlement. They must not think that he did not plaeo any weight upon their statements, as ho knew how essential railways wore. In regard to tho North Auckland railway, when ho first, visited that district ho 'was struck with tho many beautiful farms that ho saw tliero, and lie was also struck with tho thought that with such excellent water carriage close at hand thero was not such a need for a railway as in other districts. Subsequently, however, from what ho heard from settlors as to tho inconveniences and delays consequent upon reliance upon the water carriage, ho came to a different conclusion. He was very much-gratified at the expressions of' appreciation that ho had received regarding _ tho efforts of tlio Government in connection with this line. Such expressions wero encouraging, and made him wish to do better. "I want," ho said, "to seo the settlers relieved from some of the disadvantages under which thoy labour, and I am going to see it done." (Hear, hear.) Good progress was being mado at tlio present time, but ho wished to seo more expedition used with the work. Wlien, however, they spoke of £150,000, or even £100,000, they should remember that tho North Island Main Trunk lino was not yet finished. Tho extension of the line to Maungaturoto would bo a 'great tiling for tho settlors for scores of miles around. Thero wero 17-} miles yet untouched, but the surveys were completed to within about fivo miles of Maungaturoto. Last month thero wero nearly 300 men employed'on this line, but moro would bo-employed if they were available. From Maungaturoto trial surveys had also been mado in various directions for a distance of oight or teii miles. . He would ondeavour to have tho survey pushed on as soon as possible to Kaikoho, and mako that tho next objective. As to tho,East Coast line, a great deal of survey work had yet to, bo done, and ho could hold. out no promiso that a start would bo made from both ends this year. Regarding tlio Stratford-Ongaruo line, thero was a diversity of opinion in regard to the routo. Tho line was authorised to Ongaruo, but tho opinion had been expressed that although thero would bo an increased mileage, thero would be an advantage in striking tho main.lino somowhero nearer To Kuiti. Tho report on tlio subject had not, however, yot reached liini, and until ho got it nothing would be dono. Tlio settlors had for somo years been exporting tho lino to go through to Ongarue, and before anything could be dono tho matter would be fully considered.

At tho conclusion of tho interview Mr. JCidd and Sir. I'eacocko thanked the Minister for his attentive and sympathetic hearing. Mr. Harding invited tho Minister to take part in an excursion over tho North of Auckland district in January next, and Mr. Hall-.Tones replied that ho would be to aooopt it if time germittod,