RIMUTAKA DEVIATION

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 79, 3 April 1914, Page 2

RIMUTAKA DEVIATION

MR. PHILLIPS'S ADDRESSES THE CITY COUNCIL. Mr. J. Coloman Phillips, of Cartelton, briefly addressed the City Council last evening on the question of tho deviation of the Wairarapa railway to avoid the present Rimutaka Incline, He dealt with the scheme on the lines already made known to the public by previous addresses. He pointed out the advantages to Wellington of opening u» by better railway access a hinterland of two million acres of the finest dairymg land, at present occupied by big sheep runs The alternative scheme proposed by its advocates in Masterton was strongly criticised, and the claims* of a tunnel through the Wainui Hills to the shores of the Wairarapa Lake strongly urged. Mr. Phillips drew a glowing picture of the gain to be derived from a kindred work, the drainage of the Wairarapa Lake. One of the advantages of the tunnel would be that it could be used to drain the Orongorongo River into the Wellington city reservoirs at Wainui-o-mata. He described the proposal, which apparently was sanctioned by the Government, to follow the route of the old coach road to the Wairarapa, with a tunnel under the saddle, as involving an absolute waste of money. All the town&hifc* were quarrelling like cats to get the railway to go to them. Mr. Phillips ended with an impassioned appeal for the support of the City Council to the Wainui Tunnel scheme. The Mayor paid Mr. Phillips a compliment for bis keen public imprest, and thanked him for his address, which was applauded. Subsequently it was decided to refer the matter to the Finance Committee, Both the Mayor and Councillor Fletcher expressed their belief in tlie urgency of opening up better communication with Wellington's hinterland ih the Wai* rarapa.