THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY QUESTION

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume L, Issue 8909, 25 October 1905, Page 4

THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY QUESTION

The Taranaki Herald, referring to the Opunake- railway, advocates tliat it should strike Jhe main line at Stratford. The argument is that though it does not now matter whether the dairy producers in Southern Taranaki send their output away

through New Plymouth or Patea, there ; a good time coming when, direct steame will load at Motorua, and that, therefor the connection should be as near Ne Plymouth as possible. We are afra this is drawing a somewhat bold dm on the future ; and, moreover, we have i idea that if the dairy trade goes on a vancing as it has done during the pa few years the end to be aimed at in t' development of shipping conveniences w be not the tramping of great steamers i and down the coast, but- a weekly servi from Wellington and the feeding of th, service, so far as Taranaki is concerned I carefully insiflatted boats running fro New. Plymouth and Patea, and pos6ib from Opunake. Butter is not like w< or even frozen meat. It ought to "shipped for the London market if p< sible every "•■week. "_ That would bo strengthen and steady the crade. V have" Therefore-, no great confidence -the Herald' 6 prophesy. Our cont?mpi ary also expresses the opinion that :lieTe

at present no need foT the railway. T Heraldrsays : "The line will be construct some clay, but really there are many r.c! '^important works than this. Opunake a the- district south of the mount un £

already well served-with roads. Opuna has..three coach services connscting w the -railway at different, 00-ntft.- 1 Stratford-Opunake road and the F.l'Th Opunake road serve the district well, a tho settlers might-well forego their clai for a railway until the settlers on the obi side jof the railway line — Whan gar mona way and' other districts — 'have least been given access to their land the year round." ,We do not know tl -the Opunake ; Stratford road to any gr extent serves the district affected, pr ably I the -Herald has in mind the M South road. But if the~writer intervi< ed the farmers he would learn .that road .services -are very expensive al .directly for freight, and indirectly for up-kecp of roods.