NEW RAILWAYS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 75, 12 March 1913, Page 6

NEW RAILWAYS.

CONSTRUCTION TO BE PISHED ON. INSTRUCTIONS BY THE MINISTER. Wellington, March 12. The Hon. W. Fraser, Minister for Public Works, informed a “Post” reporter yesterday that he has given instructions for the surveys of several branch railways authorised last session to be proceeded with, also for the pushing on of the construction of the East Coast (Gisborne to Napier) Main Trunk Line. The authorities taken for surveys and estimates are :—

1. North Auckland (branch line to Whangarei), ’ a branch line from Whangarei via Kioreroa to a junction with the North Auckland railway’. Length about 20 miles. The survey of this line, is now being started.

2. North Island Main Trunk (Waiuku branch), from the Main Trunk via Patumahoe to Waiuku. Length about 12 miles. 3. A section of the East Coast Trunk Railway from Gisborne towards Napier. This is a re-authori-sation of the line for the construction of which power was obtained last year. After a little work had been done the engineers came to the conclusion that it would be wiser to start from another point further south at a place called Makaraka. The length of the first section will be 26 miles. Considerable progress has already been made with the work of construction.

4. Opunake branch line, from a point on the Taianaki line still to be determined. Length about 23 miles. This line will pass through or Tiear Manaia, the centre of a large and flourishing dairying district’. b. Featherston .to Mjjrtinborough branch. Length about 11 miles.

6. Culverden to Waiafi. Branch trunk lines, such as the East Coast, Gisborne to Napier, are to be constructed on a uniform system as to weight of rails, etc., with the existing main lines, but in the case of the branches the Minister contemplates next session submitting to the House a cheaper form of railway, which he thinks will suffice for the requirements of the district through which they will run. ’ REQUESTS MUST BE * REASONABLE. Gisborne, March 12. An official welcome was accorded to W. Fraser, Minister for Public Works, this morning. The Minister stated that his visit was not to make promises but to acquire information. Until he had more funds at his disposal, people must be reasonable with their requests.