NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1227, 8 September 1911, Page 2

NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

LINE TO COST £700,000. TURCHASE OF LARGE HOLDINGS ADVISED. A Commission was appointed on April 1 to report upon the various routes proposed for the extension of the North Auckland Railway from a point known as M'Carroll's Gap, in continuation of the North Island Main Trunk Railway. Tho Commission examined 08 witnesses, and travelled 700 miles in order to inspect all the district interested in the project. Its report was communicated to tho Governor on May 11, and presented to Parliament on Tuesday. Tho Commission decided that by any of the three routes proposed n junciion could be effected with the section of the Kawa-kawa-Hokianga Railway already :n cr-urse of construction by sixty miles of mi way costing about J571>»,000. It has no hesitation in saving that in a few years after the completion of the lino the revenue will mote than pay interest on the cost. Tho Commission recommend* the adoption of what is known as lho western route for tho principal reason that it traverses a largo area ot rich pastoral land capable of carrying a large population. This recommendation was qualiiic:l bv a remark that the middle route, while traversing a portion of the same country, mi'ht easilv be connected with the Wfiangaroi-Kawakawa Railway systems. The report concludes with a recommendation thnt all large blocks of land, whether owned by Europeans or Natives Win" on or adjacent to the proposed main line nnd likely to bo effected in value bv the construction of the line, should be acquired by the Crown for closer settlement without delay. When the report was laid on the table of tho House yesterday by the Hon. H. " Mr!" F?' Mandcr (Marsden) said lie, regretted that the Commission had decided in favour of the western route. He still held that the eastern route was tho best, but be hoped tho work would now be pushed on. , . , , , , Mr. J. Stallworthy (Kaipara) defended the report o'f tho Commission. Mr W. F. Massev, Leader of the Opposition, said he was very strongly opposed to placing members of Parliament on such Commissions. How was it possible for them to bo unprejudiced? Ihoyimturnllv had their minds made up beforehand." The Minister should have selected men from outside the Auckland province for Commissioners. He noticed that tie report recommended that all large blocks of Native and European-owned land near the railway route should be acquired by the Government for closer settlement. Ho hoped that whatever Government was.iu power next vear that recommendation would be seriously considered. Along the Main Trunk route and elsewhere there were largo blocks of Native lauds which had been enormously enhanced in value through the building of that line. So long as the Natives could use the laud they should keep it, but the surplus should be acquired, and made Crown land, and settled under the optional clauses of the Land Act. Ho did not know that there were any.large blocks of European land in tho North Auckland railway district, smitabl« for close settlement. Mr. V. Reed (Bay of Islands) denied that his mind was made up before-he joined tha Commission. Tho lino did not go through his electorate. Tho Hon. R. M'Kenzie, Minister for Public Works, said that tho report confirmed his previous views, and ho was pleased that it was unanimous. Ho dc-. fended tho personnel of tho Commission, on tho ground that it. comprised the necessary expert, business and local knowledge. Strong advocates for particular views wcro not amiss on a Commission when there were enough unbiased and rfcilful members, and such was the caso with this Commission. The report should command the full confidence of tho country. He recognised the value of the.Tailway, and was,pushing it on with more rapidity of his predecessors. He thought tho connection with Whangarci should bo made as soou as the ljno was sufficiently far advanced.' He denied a report that thero had been a slip in a tunnel on tho line. There was really no tunnel -in the place referred to.