A NEW RAILWAY TO THE WAIRARAPA

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 134, 7 June 1906, Page 5

A NEW RAILWAY TO THE WAI RARAPA

AN OLD PROPOSAL REVIVED. TO LOWRY BAY AND THROUGH WAINUI. The scheme for a railway to the Wairarapa, -which Mr. Wakefieid brought forward and unsuccessfully endeavoured to carry through years ago, is being revived by Councillor Mason, of the Hutt Borough Council, who is bringing it directly under the notice of members of Parliament representing constituencies affected, and who referred to it at lost night's council meeting. Councillor Mason said he had seen the original plans, and he possessed a great many' particulars of the railway suggested by Mr. Wakefieid. He thought the council might well assist in urging the undertaking of the work. The proposal Avas to take the line from Petone, down .White's line — the boundary of the Petone and Hutt Boroughs — over the river, across by Mr. Ward's property to Mr. Allen's near the foot of the Wainui-o-lnata hill ; from there to Lowry Bay, by tunnel to the Wainui-o-mata Valley, and coming out at the Wairarapa Lake. The time was ripe for a strong deputation to wait on the Government, and bring under its notice the advantages of this route. They all knew the heavy cost to the colony of the Rimutaka- incline. There would be a station on ti.e eastern side of the Hutt, and an immeDse area of the borough would bo served. Again, at Lowry Bay, the j whole of the bays would be served, as connections would soon be made. Then there would be the whole of the Wainui Valley to draw on, where there was a large area for dairying and further settlement, while further on were immense enpplies of timber. The grade would run from one in 60 to one in 80. There were immense tracts of splendid country to be opened up, and a milk supply as well as a fish supply could be provided for Wellington. There would soon grow up a large passenger traffic as well. The matter, he concluded, was of great importance, not only to residents of the j Hutt, the bays, and Wainui, but also 1 to the residents of the Wairarapa. No further action was taken last night.