MAIN TRUNK LINE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 108, 8 May 1923, Page 8

MAIN TRUNK LINE

THE PAEKAKARIKI DEVIATION

BEACH ROUTE HAS BEEN

ABANDONED.

Railway deviations received some prominence to.-day, when two deputations from the Hutt County waited upon the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. J. G. Coates. The Minister made a brief statement as to the Rimutaka, deviation, and later, the Chief Engineer to the Public Works Department (Mr. Furkert) made an announcement as to the Paekakariki deviation of the Main Trunk railway. 'Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., who accompanied a number of Pukerua settlers, said that the people of that district were most anxious to learn what route the deviation would follow. Did the engineers still consider that a railway line round the coast from Plimmerton to Paekakariki was feasible?

Mr. I'urkert replied that since .that route was proposed conditions had altered considerably. For instance, a large number of houses had been erected where the railway would have to go. The Department, therefore, had been compelled to reconsider the inland route. A tunnel might now be constructed just beyond Plimmerton, and if that scheme were adopted the line would not rise to anything like the height it did now. There were many possibilities, and he was not in a position to say anything definite. It might bo necessary to tunnel right through. .Mr. Field asked the Minister to state where th* permanent highway would

go. The Minister: "What do you Def.n by permanent highway? What on «arUi do you think we are spending so ii:uch money on the present road for?"

Mr. Field: "I do not mean to suggest that you should construct a new road light away."

The Minister: ' 'Why look so very far ahead, Mr. Field?"

Mr. Field inquired -whether, in the event of the existing railway line being dispensed with,' could it be con\erted into a road.

Mr. Furkert said that that would be far too expensive. It would be cheaper to construct a new road than to attempt to widen the present railway track. The utilisation of the tiack seemed to him to be out of the question.