LIGHT RAILWAYS.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 203, 2 December 1920, Page 2

LIGHT RAILWAYS.

MATAMATA-TAURANGA PROPOSAL. The interest in the proposal for the construction of a light railway from Matamata to Tauranga has been revived by the visit to Matamata on Tuesday last of Mr. B. C. Robbins, secretary of the Tauranga Railway League, and other supporters from the Tauranga district. Owing to the fact that a letter from Mr. E. G. Clarke, the secretary of the Matamata Light Railway League, to Mr. Robbins, asking him to postpone his visit, not having got to its destination, Mr. Robbins came unexpectedly, hut despite that fact, Mr. Clarke succeeded in getting together a good number of members of the League and others at the Town Board Office in the evening, the chairman of the League (Mr. J. Price) presiding.

Mr. Robbins explained that the people on the Tauranga side were thoroughly in earnest regarding the proposal, and wished to have the matter brought to a head. He felt that the people of Matamata recognised the importance of such a connection. The District Railways Act had now been amended to permit the construction of railways less than the standard gauge of 3ft. Gin., and everything was now in order to get to work. The County Engineer and the solicitor at Tauranga were now engaged in defining the boundaries of the suggested railway district on that side, and it was desired that the Matamata people should co-operate on this side, by defining their boundaries, so that the whole railway district could he ascertained and gazetted. When this was done, the Board could be elected, and arrangements could be made to have a survey made of the route. The Board would have the power to strike a small rate to cover the cost of such a survey, and the necessary expenses of defining and gazetting the district and. , electing the Board. At the present time some people held the opinion that a route was feasible, and others contended that it was not. A proper survey would settle the matter. He understood that a surveyor had reported that a route for a standard gauge line was possible, and he felt, therefore, that there should be no difficulty in getting a light railway through. A line between Tauranga and Matamata would undoubtedly be of advantage, but if the people waited" for the Government to put it through, it would be many years before it became an accomplished fact. He strongly urged the Matamata people to get to work in order that a trial survey could be made.

Mr. H. H. Clifford, who accompanied Mr. Robbins, stressed the point that die only way to settle whether a route was possible or not was to have a survey made, and the fairest way to meet the cost of this was by the creation of a railway district over which a rate could be struck to cover the cost. A general discussion followed, and it was ultimately decided, on the motion of Mr. Clarke, seconded by Mr A. M. Wright (Te Poi) that a deputation from the League should wait upon the County Council and ask their co-operation in the matter, especially in defining the boundaries of the proposed railway district on this side. The meeting concluded with thanks to Mr. Robbins for having made the trip.