What Waipu Wants.

Northern Advocate, 25 June 1910, Page 3

What Waipu Wants.

RAILWAY TO ONE TREE POINT

In speaking to an "Advocate" reporter on Wednesday, Cr. McKay-

gave a little information with regard

to the position Waipu was taking; up on the question of utilising the Wairua Falls. There were, Mr McKaysaid, between 900 and 1000 people residing in Waipu (excluding the population of Ruakakn and Takahiwai), all of whom were dependent for their communication with the outer world upon a very irregular service of steamers, which had to navigate a river which Was unworkable for fully six months of the year. The people had, after a long experiment, been forced to the conclusion that the steamer service was a failure, and that it was useless to look in that direction for any improvement. Naturally enough the residents of W'aipu were more anxious to have better means of communication with Auckland than with Whangarei, though, of course, both

were desired. To give a regular ser-

vice to

Auckland a comparatively

small sum of money would have to

All that would be necessary would be a railway from Waipu to One Tree Point, a distance of 12 miles, and this the Hon. T.

be expended

Mackenzie estimated could be laid

down for between £12,000 and £15,----000. As such a railway would have no competition to meet, it should have little difficulty in paying 3-1 per cent, on the invested capital. To have a light railway to Whangarei

would mean that the Waipu people, when travelling to Auckland, woul_ have to travel 18 miles further than they would if the railway terminus

was One Tree Point

Mr McKay was, however, of the opinion that the Wairua Falls might be utilised in providing the power, for the railway Waipu has in view. If an electric cable were laid to Limestone Island, it woul& not be a difficult matter to continue it to

One Tree Point and on to Waipu, where it could be used for lighting purposes and for supplying, power for the butter factories or any other industry, as well as for 'the railway.

A public meeting is to be held at Waipu on Monday to consider what should be done and so as to ensure a large attendance all the ratepayers have been circularised.