NORTH ISLAND TRUNK LINE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7227, 29 April 1884, Page 4

NORTH ISLAND TRUNK LINE.

[Pee Peesß Association.] AUCKLAND, Aran, 28. The .Minister of Public Works started on Sunday morning to make another of hi® journeys of inspection along the proposed, routes for the North Island trunk railway. Mr Mitchelson, who was accompanied by Mr Knorpp, left by special train, which carried them to Te Awauiutu, whence they went on to Kihikibi to join Messrs Holmes> and Boss, surveyors. They started on the journey with pack-horses this morning. The two surveyors named were engaged in a survey of the western route for the railway line, and know the country well. Mr Holmes is of opinion, that it will take a month to accomplish the journey by the Stratford - Oakura and. Tongarahau route; and the party determined, therefore, to go by the Mokau. Eiver, about 60 miles from the sea, and on. arriving at Mokau they will spend a day or so in inspecting the country and deciding upon the route to be followed. Their first stopping place will be Te Uira, and, including all delays, they expect to reach. Waitara in nine days. It will, therefore,, be a fortnight before news can be got o£ the party, which will be when they reach, the telegraph station at New Plymouth. We may add that the distance between Te Awamutu and Stratford is about 135 miles, that being the extent of line required to be made in order to connect Wellington and Auckland by rail. The surveyors estimate that the line will cost .£BOOO per j mile, to construct which reaches a total of rather over a million. A connecting line ! via the Central route would be over 200 ! miles in length.