EAST COAST RAILWAY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 83, 20 March 1911, Page 8

EAST COAST RAILWAY.

TOUR OF THE MINISTER. THE QUESTION OF ROUTES.

[per press association.]

Gisborne, Mar. 20. The Hon. R. McKenzie was interviewed to-day by a deputation representing the East Coast Inland League regarding the ruote of the Gisborne railway line southwards The deputation strongly urged the advantages of the route to Napier via Hangaroa, in preferenc’ to that via Mangapoike. The Major, introducing the deputation, said the members hac come from 40 to’so miles to see the Minister. Mr. Morice said they desired that an the routes should be investigated before decision was made. The route they advocated was along the Hangaroa river and up the Aroha stream, across a low saddle, and through Ngatapa. They said that route would drain from’2oo.ooo to 300.000 acres, while ike Mangapoik* route would only tap about 80,000 acres. The Minister, in reply, said the League’s information as to what the engineers had reported was e** roneous. He produced the report that the Engineer-in-Uhief had given, showing tlu»® the line via Hangaroa would he nine miles longer and would cost £9(>oo more, or £lOOO a mile. The deputation contended that the engineer had not seen the saddle on the Aroha section of their suggested route. As an alternative, the deputation suggested a junct ’or out of Gisborne-Motu line at Waihokn. thus saving ten miles on the Gisborne-Auckland line. The Minister said if the deputa tion could show him such a saving, he was prepared to consider it After discussion it was arranged that the deputation should meet the Minister again on Wednesday. The Minister intimated his willingness to at once send the engineer in chief to inspect anv of the routes.