OHAI RAILWAY

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 May 1925, Page 7

OHAI RAILWAY

OPENING CEREMONY SPEECHES.

(Per Press Association.)

INVERCARGILL, April 30. The Minister of Railways c (Mr. Coates),' to-dayi’ performed the ceremony of opening .18 1 miles of railway constructed by the Ohai Railway Board. -C , '< ! : A -special train, conveying; about 600’ 'guests of the Board, including Mr, Coates, Mr. Anderson and Sir tt Joseph Ward, left Invercargill in the *, morning and on arrival at Reeds Siding 42 miles from town, they were welcomed by Mr. A. W/ Roger (Chairman of the Board), • Mr. Coates referred to the occasion as unique in the history of New Zealand as this was the’ first line 'constructed under the special legislation of 1914, and its undertaking showed ’ the confidence of the people of the district. The line, thanks to a large increase 1 in the coal output, had been constructed without, a special rate on the settlers . being collected. The achievement was one that reflected to the credit of the Board, whose efficiency he commended. Regarding the railways generally, the Minister said that adverse factors had-operated against the successful running of the system the past 12 months, and at the end of the year , they faced a deficit approximately of £78,000 on the 33 . per cent, basis. Dtiring the year £BO,OOO had been paid into :, the Superannuation Fund, and a larger amount would be required'next year;‘but after that, the amount needed would gradually get smaller. The, second factor was the recent epidemic, which had resulted in a loss of approximately half a million passengers’ fares, and a drop in revenue of approximately £lOO,OOO, when compared with the revenue ob- . tained in the corresponding period last year. The strike also had caused a doss of approximately £150,000. Taking these factors into consideration, the railways showed a wonderful improvement, and he hoped for a much better improvement next year. The object of the Department would be to cater for every legitimate requirement of the community. He wished the new line a prosperous run and hoped it would bring about wide industrial development in the district. .Mr. F. W. Furkert said he hoped the example of the Board in building the railway out of revenue and thus , avoiding going on the market for a loan, would be largely copied as selfreliance was desirable in New Zealand. After other speeches, Mrs. W. MacAlister cut the ribbons and Mr. Coates was presented with a silver pick and shovel on a small silver railway line, mounted on a greenstone base, as a memento of the occasion. i / - DISTRICT’S GREAT PROSPECTS.

(Special to “Star.”'

INVERCARGILL, April 30. The Ohai district can be roughly described as that country drained by the Ohai and Sharpridge streams and the Okamea River, from its source to a point near Feld wick. The district comprises approximately 130,000 acres, being portions of the Wairio, Waiau and Mararba Survey Districts. Of the total'area, about 40,000 acres are eminently suitable for dairying and general agricultural purposes, while the bal- . ance is first class grazing country, carrying both sheep and cattle. The mineral wealth of the Ohai railway district cannot be even approximately estimated. It comprises what has been described by Professor Janies Park, of Otago University, and others, as the largest undeveloped coalfield in New Zealand.’ (. Coal has been proved over an area of at least 3000 acres, and there is every indication that further prospecting will establish its existence over two or three times that area. There are three seams which have been proved over the area named, from their outcrops on the surface to a depth of 1032 feet below, the quality of which is highest grade household coal, while the lower seams closely approximate bituminous coal. Within the district are vast deposits of high grade limestone, which in conjunction with marles and clays, in close proximity, open up a great field for cement manufacture, ■ while clays'in different parts of the dis- ; ti'ict are peculiarly adapted for pot- •' tery works. It was to establish railway communication ,to this district, and to develop its vast potential wealth, that the Ohai Railway Board was formed .under the provisions of the Local Railways Act, 1914. The result has been the construction of a line which is a legitimate and direct extension of the Government railway from its terminus at Wairio, along the valley of the Wairio stream, through Morley village (part of Nightcaps), and over the watershed, by an. easy gradient to Ohai, thence to Birchwood terminus, a distance of thirteen miles from Wairio. The Ohai railway has the distinction of being the first to be constructed under the Local Railways Act, j 1914- It is a 'public work constituted and conducted by a comparatively small local body, representing a still smaller body of ratepayers, in comparison with other rateable communi- * ties in the Dominion/ Notwithstanding ’ these facts;' it is questionable whether • any public work of whatever magnitude will be greater factor or have great er individual influence in and upon development and welfare of this particular part of the country. It is an undertaking, regarding which few, apart / from the immediately interested, ever heard, yet the result of its operations , s will be felt and recognised not only 11 throughout the South Island, but right a throughout the Dominion as a whole.