RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY COMMISSION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXII, 16 May 1912, Page 5

RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY COMMISSION.

SITTING AT MANAIA

, r The. Commission held a sitting at Manaia on AA rednesday at 2 p m P a +Jo p7' G^PEer, manager of the Patea Refrigerating Company, gave information with reference to the value of produce from South Taranaki exported during the past year from Patea. lhe Refrigerating Company was owned by the co-operative dairy companies, which had sunk £26,000 in establishing the works and acquiring the steamers engaged in the transport of the produce between Patea and Wellington. Most of the factories in Southern Taranaki sent their produce to Patea. Mr T. McPhillips, chairman of Waimate West County Council, referred to the difficulty and expense of maintaining roads in the country. He advocated the construction of a railway with branches m the .direction of Manaia and Kaponga: failing that, he would reluctantly advocate the construction ot a tramway from Manaia to the main line, lhe County Council would give a guarantee of £100 per annum for 10 years agamst loss on a railway feeder. Mr A. H. Christie, chairman of the Manaia Town Board, urged the necessity for a feeder line to connect Manaia with the proposed line. There were heavy charges on merchandise inward owing to the cost of cartage—about 10s per ton to private firms. The Town Board would give a subsidy of £25 per annum in the event of a loss on a railway feeder serving Manaia. Mr John AVyborn, secretary of the Kiverdale Dairy Company, gave figures showing his company's Output, which Was carted to the railway at Hawera \ tramway between Hawera and Manaia wouldl serve his company. Mr T. A. Bridge, AVaimate AA 7est County Councillor, advocated a line running out to near Te Roti, which would be suitable for shipment at either Patea or New Plymouth. Mr D. J. Hughes, County Councillor, said the district should have a feeder for the railway. He was of the opinion that Patea port would not be able to serve the South Taranaki district in the future. Mr AY. T. AA rells, farmer, Manaia, gave evidence regarding the possibilities of stock raising in the Manaia district. Mr W. S. Young, settler, Manaia, advocated a line of railway from Manaia along the present main road to Hawera, with a separate line to serve Opunake. Messrs C. E. Barleyman, E. Long, and AVm. Borrie also gave evidence.