DEPUTATION BE THE ROUTE ON THE MASTERTON-WOODVILLE RAILWAY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5528, 3 November 1879, Page 3

DEPUTATION BE THE ROUTE ON THE MASTERTON-WOODVILLE RAILWAY.

(FROM THE "NEVV ZEALAND TIMES.") A deputation of* settlerS ttf the 1 East Coast of Wellington waited on tlie Minister for Public Works on Tuesday afternoon, to urge upon him the necessity of thoroughly exploring the Seventy-mile Bush before finally fixing on the route of the Wellington to Napier railway ; also, to point out the utter inability of the counties to maintain the main road through the Bush* Among those present werfe Messrs Beetham and Pharazyn, chairmen of the Wairarapa Counties ; Mr Orraond representing the Waipawa County ; Messrs H. Bunny, Brandon, and Johnston, M.H.R.'s, Minchin, Buchanan, Waring, Taylor, and others.

It was pointed out that unless it was absolutely necessary the main road and railway should not run alongside of each other, as by adopting a different route a large area of fresh country at present inaccessible -would be opened up, and further settlement .promoted. The main road traverses a large area of native land , while further eadb it ie knoWn that a practicable route exists, where the country is chiefly Crown land, and there are several early settlements which are still without roads. The deputation strongly urged Ministers to have a thorough exploration made and estimates prepared of different routes, with due regard to opening up the greatest possible extent of back country.

The Hon. the Minister for Public Works promised that the Government would go fully into the matter, and would not definitely fix the route of the railway without a thorough and impartial investigation of the circumstances, and a careful exploration of the country.

The Chairmen of the various counties then explained the difficulty that existed as to to the maintenance of the main road through the bush. They pointed out that in the first instance the bridges had been hurriedly constructed of inferior timber, and that they were rotten and required renewing, and that a large expendithre was necessary to keep the road open. The counties were already almost overtaxed to keep local roads open, and could not undertake the maintenance of this line, which traverses about 50 miles of unsettled iands from which no rates are derived. The case is similar to that of the Christchurch, Hokitika, and Napier-Taupo roads, both of which pass through unsettled country, not rated and have to be maintained by the Government.' The counties were utterly unable to undertake the responsibility of maintenance, and unless aid were afforded, traffic would soon be stopped upon this important line. The Hon. Mr Oliver replied that the whole question of opening up and maintaining the main road in the Forty-mile Bush districts would be carefully considered in the Cabinet, and the exceptional circumstances mentioned would be taken into consideration. The deputation then thanked the Minister for Public Works and withdrew.