NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 79, 5 April 1910, Page 3

NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

CONFLICTING OPINIONS l»X TELEGRAPH— SPECIAL TO THE POST.) AUCKLAND, This Day. The long-drawn-out controversy regarding tho route of the North Auckland railway is still agitating the public mind In the course of an interview. Mr. Gerald Peacocke, president of the Auckland Railways League, remarked that there were two deviations proposed by the Minister, the one north, and the other south of M'Carroll's Gap. "These two deviations from the route originally selected," he said, "are two absolutely distinct questions. Some people seem to be deliberately trying to obscure the issues. Both the deviations mentioned are western deviations ; whether either or nerther, or both deviations, are adopted, the line under present arrangements will go l through M'Carroll's Gap. The advisability of that deviation, the Government has decided, shall be enquired into by a Royal Commission. It takes the line to the west of the Tangihua range, and having myselt ridden through tho count rv that it will traverse. I think it probable the commissioners will declare in favour of it. At present, at any rate, there «s little or no dispute about it." "How about the deviation south of M'Canoirst" Mr. • Peacocke was asked. "There is controversy and great divergence of opinion between professional engineers," he replied, "about the deviation south of M'Carroll's, and whatever decision may be come to concerning it, it will not in any way affect the question of the other deviation to the west of Tangihua range, which is the one apparently favoured by the Dargaville people. The deviation south of M'Carron's is the one as to which there is much local feeling and bitter dispute. According to competent professional opinion, it will entail a large extra cost tor construction and maintenance as compared with the route authorised by Parliament, and fixed upon by the late Minister for Public Works." "Is it certain that the opinion as to the extra cost of the western route it a sound one?" was asked. "It may turn out to be mistaken, but the Railway League simply asks that the question should be submitted to investigation by the Royal Commission which is to enquire into the Question of the other deviation, about which there is, comparatively speaking, no dispute, and which will not be reached for years to come. The fear that what is asked for will seriously delay the progress of the line is quite groundless, and should not be allowed to block enquiry."