TAUPO-TOTARA COMPANY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1509, 3 August 1912, Page 10

TAUPO-TOTARA COMPANY.

PROPOSED TRAMWAY. Sir. W. ]). S. Mncdonald has presented a. petition to the House of Representatives, in which tlio Taupo-'l'otara'Timber Company ask for permission to extend their tramway from Pularnru to Taupo, connecting with the steamer scrvico on the lake. The petition stales that the extension would lead to a largo amount of settlement that at present is impossible. The cost of cartage 01 the necessaries of settlement, and of products for market and export, it is stated, renders settlement under present conditions virtually impossible. The area which would be Beneficially affected by a Putaruru-Taupo lino, i.s said to bo about two million acres, of which, about eight hundred thousand acres arc Native lands, and 350,000 acres aro Crown lands. It is also represented that the opening of a passenger service, to Wairakei and Taupo would mean the rapid development of a tourist district not now fully known, Taupo being the finest fishing resort in the world. The petitioners stale that they aro assured that if the. tramway is completed to 'Taupo the- necessary capital will he found for tho erection of works at Taupo for the preservation and sale of fish caught in tho district. The total cost of tho fifty miles of tramway constructed by the company, including rolling stock, is said to bo .£130,000, and tho petitioners state that they aro advised that a light line, capable of carrying goods and passengers could bo carried from the present terminus to Taupo for a further sum of about .£50,000. Tho petitioners uro advised that tho available traffic would probably not suffice for some time to pay working expenses and interest, and they aro desirous of obtaining assistance from the owners of tho land which will bo benefited by the completion of tho tramway. In view of these considerations, thu petitioners ask the House of Representatives to recommend tho Government:— (a) 1. Kither tu take such stops as may bo' necessary to provide that the Crown mid Native" lands to be benefited by the completion of the tramway may contribute in equitable proportion to tho cost of such completion and the running of a passoiiger and goods service, on such trainwav. or in the alternative, (2) To empower the petitioners to purchase at present values and dispose of on such terms, conditions, and liinita tious as may bo stipulated, an area of Crown or Native land in the districts to bo affected bv the said tramway, not exceeding 200,000 acres. .(b) To issue an Order-in-Council empowering ueti Honors to extend their tramway to Lake Taupo in the town of T.nupo. The petition is stoned by Messrs. I\ Or. Dalzicll and W. ~E. Collins, directors.