THE TAUPO RAILWAY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 15 March 1926, Page 9

THE TAUPO RAILWAY.

STATE PURCHASE MOVEMENT. SECTION OF NINETEEN MILES. HAMILTON, March 9. A petition, asking the Government to purchase that portion of the Taupo 'l’otara Timber Company’s line Hum I’utaruni to the 19-mile peg, a point not far from Tokoroa, is being circulated by tJic Putaruru-Taupo Railway Boanl in the Lichfield, Tokoroa, and Ongoroto districts. The petitioners are asking the Government to improve, this length so as to bring it up to the requirements of a second-grade railway. They set out that 200 tons of first-grade cheese are made at Tokoroa annually and that the land in the district, though of a light pumaeeous nature, responds very readily to proper treatment wit.li phosphatic manures. The land is capable of being brought to a high state of productivity, and a top dressing of 2ewt of manure keeps it in good heart for dairying and fattening purposes. The petitioners point out that cheap manures are absolutely essential, and while appreciating the reduction brought about by the Government in tin' cost of fertilisers, state that the cost of transport over the line is heavy, ft costs Los oil to carry a ton of munurc over the Government line for 1(57 miles, and 10s to carry it over the private line to Tokoroa, a distance of 14 miles. Further, the timber company does not carry stock, with the consequence that the settlers’ transportation charges are further increased. Reference to the - prospects of the timber industry in the country beyond Tokoroa is also ,made, and it is stated that a large back loading of freight over the line is assured.