OUR NEAREST PORT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 343, 8 March 1911, Page 6

OUR NEAREST PORT.

KAWI-lIA AND TE KUIil. REASONS FOR RAIL COMMUNICATION. Taking advantage of a visit to Te Kuiti paid by Mr Geo. G. Jonathan, member of the Kawhia Harbour Board and the Kawhia County Council, a "Chronicle" representative interviewed him on the question of rail communication between Kawhia and the Main Trunk line.

Mr Jonathan said the present position was a peculiar one. He could hardly call it apathy, it was rather lack of knowledge. Take the question of freight, with Te Awamutu a3 a basis. The rate was 49s 9.1 a ton, or say 50s for general goods. At the present time New Plymouth got goods from southern ports at 10s a ton, anil allowing for a line as proposed by the Government, between Kawhia and Kavva, a distance of 28 miles, goods could be delivered to places adjacent on the Main Trunk line at a cost of not more than 15s a ton. Te Awamutu was the 100 mile point and he took that as an illustration. The district was totally in the hands of Auckland, as far as trade was concerned, at present, and the opening of the port to rail comnnectiun meant that instead of one centre only the King Country could deal with any part of the Dominion dircet. In his own case he had aranged a through freight rate which saved him 12\ per cent, on the landed cost of his goods, and such and greater savings would be available the further inland one went.

"WhatabouL the route, Mr Jonathan''" "The best policy would be to tap the Main Trunk line as far South as possible. If beyond Te Awamutu it might as well be a good way beyond, as all settlers living within that area would equally benefit iii the lower freights available.." Mr Jonathan went on to say that Kawhia Harbour can accommodate boats drawing 20 feet of water without expending a penny on deepening or improving it; and this at practically all states of the tide. Ic was the best harbour on the West Coast, and was the nearest port to Sydney. Captain Hal cord and Mr Morgan, of the Union Steamship Company, had been to Kawhia some time ago and after- suveying the whole of the harbour, decided that about 20 chains down the harbour on the North side was a suitable site for a pier, with only the slight expense of making a beastwork against the rock. Messrs Nelson Bros, and Messrs Borthwick, of Waitara, had also been through, and subject to rail connection being made, had been making enquiries about suitable sites for erecting freezing works. When that was done it meant an immense boon to farmers in the district, who would be able to send their stock to be dealt with on the spot, instead of to travel by rail the immense distance to Auckland. The Harbour Board would also probably erect a small dumping plant next season.

"Te Kuiti people argue that you should go for roads rather than railways at the present juncture, Mr Jonathan." "Even if Kawhia had no roads and were just a great big rock, a railway would be a valuable asset to Te Ivuiti. Ad far as road connection is concerned, that is our local trouble. A railway won't stop our agitation for roads but rather make us work all the harder to connect with it." Mr Jonathan said he had been appointed tn call upon the Chambers of Commerce in New Plymouth, Wellington and Wanganui last year. He managed to visit New Plymouth and Wellington and found the presidents of both chambers greatly interested in the project. The Wellington people , were anxious to do all they could to help the movement forward as it : meant the opening up of a vast and j wealthy area oE country, at present a monopoly of one particular centre, j and once opened, open to the world. j "What are your local mineral re- j sources, Mr Jonathan j "We have a fine area of coal in such j a position that it could almost be put j on a barge at the pit's mouth. There would be practically no cost of carriage." " What is its quality?" "It is good household coal and has j been successfully used on coastal j steamers. Of course, only the out- j crop has been tested so far. Look at j the absurd position," went on Mr [ Jonathan. "You are less than 40 j miles from the sea and yet you have j to go miles to get a port. The j route oil'ers vjo engineering difticul- j ties, so Mr Adams informs me. and j the railway will pay the day it is , opened, unlike some lines which will j have to wait for traffic." ! Mr Jonathan said that there were 50,000 acres of land near Kawhia which were going through the Appelate Court now and the Government had also bought 16,000 to 20,000 acres of land. Other idle native lauds round Kawhia totalled 100,000 acres. The railway would help in its occupation and development.