NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8408, 7 October 1907, Page 2

NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

THE. OVERLAND JOURNEY

A gentleman, from Auckland, who arrived in Napier "tiie cfclier dfty, by way of the North Island Mam Trunk Railway supplier the following notes of the new r,oute to the M.il. Herald:—"Now that the daily coach service between the two railheads on the North Island Main Trunk Railway has been established, many travellers, especially ■ those going between Auckland and Wellington, are making the overland journey. Leaving Auckland by the express train at 10 a.m., there -are places of interest iii connection with, the early days to bfe seen on the way, and good views may be obtained of the Waikato country. At Frankton Junction, the traveller who is bound for Wellington or other destination, south, changes trains, and, traversing the King Country, reaches Taumarunui at about 7 p.m. The change of air is noticeable on reaching these higher altitudes. A start is made from Taumarunui each morning at about 7 o'clock. A carriage being attached to the Public Works tram, one can travel in comfort. There are sawmills in all directions, and the whares of the employees form small townships at some of the stopping places. At Ivakahi, a Government sawmill is in full swing, and keeps many hands busy. There are pretty spots all along the line. Raurimu is reached at about. 9 a.m., and there coaches are waiting for passengers. Two firms are on the road at present —McDonald Bros, and the old-established and well-known firm of Crowther and McCauley. Raurimu is a place of fair size, and most branches of business are represented'there, but the completion of works in that neighbourhood being near at hand, and the men moving to the southward, the town is not quite so busy as formerly. Here is the much talked of spiral section of the railway line. The coach journey increases in interest,' and the Iforests on either side, which form a fine sight, also give an indication of the great amount of timber which the railway will make available, swelling the demand for rolling stock. The completion of the great viaduct at Makatot© is being pushed on by Andersons, of Christchurch, and near it there is a village consisting of th 6 workers' quarters. Ihe coach stays here for luncheon, which can be obtained at the boardinghouse. Several other viaducts of smaller size are being built by the Public Works Department, and are well in hand. In fact, all along the line gangs of men are busy, and a good show should be made by the end of 1908. At Horopito, a store, butcher's shop and so forth, form the beginnings of what has been acclaimed as another Chicago. The existing buildings are towards the southern end and near the intended site of the railway station. Sections which we l- © recently sold in Auckland at high prices appear to be out of the present town. Ohakune, the next town, is a busy place, with large shops and boarding-houses, and it gives some promise of being a fairsized place. A number of sawmillß are being erected, and this coming summer will probably see Ohakune quite up<to-date. The Public Works tram for the south is taken at Rangataua, about two miles from Ohakune, and runs as far as Mataroa. From here the line has been taken over by the Railway Department. Taihape is reached at ahout 7 p.m., making the second day's journey from Auckland. At Mataroa, the traveller gets on to 'open lines,' and the connections thereafter bv means of Marton Junction are well known."