THE EAST COAST RAILWAY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 261, 21 October 1911, Page 4

THE EAST COAST RAILWAY.

The inclusion in the Railways Authorisation Bill of authority to the Government to arrange for the construction cf a section of tin* East (.'oast railway from Napier to a point near the confluence of the Otakawai and Esk rivers, in Block HI. Pukelapu survey district, length about 15 miles’, is sufficient indication of the route to be followed to make ; t reasonable to assume that, the Department has decided that the line shall cross the Ahuriri lagoon to West Shore and follow the beach to Pelane. In the minds of many the wisdom c,f selecting this route is seriously questioned, but the matter having been left to departmental officers, their decision must he accepted bv the public. We were inclined to the opinion that the railway would strike inland from Napier towards Greenmeadows, and then branch in a northerly direction to about seven miles inland from Eskdale, but the possibility of this route being taken is dispelled by the Authorisation Bill stating the distance of the first section to be 15 miles. As the position is now more clearly defined, the foresight of the Napier Harbour Board at its last met ting in passing a resolution “that, in view of the possible commencement of the East Coast railway from this end. the Public Works Department at Napier be fully informed cf possible future harbour extensions, so that in laying off any railway survey future harbour requirements may receive proper consideration" is apparent. Some method has to be adopted for the railway to cross the inner harbour. This work must inevitably cost a considerable amount of money, and if any saving can lie effected by co-operation of the controlling bodies and the Government steps should at once be taken. Government should be made aware, as soon as possible, of the projected plans of the Harbour Board, and if the Department would also place its views or plans before the Board it would obviate any clashing of conflicting schemes or unnecessary waste of money. It is most important that the intentions of the Public Works Department should be known at the earliest opportunity, otherwise work may be indefinitely hung up or obstructed by false moves. The Harbour Board and the Department are not the only persons to be considered. The County Council, River Board, and Napier Borough Council, are also deeply interested in the proposed works, and the River Board, at any rate, may want to say something regarding the Tutaekuri control or diversion.