NORIH AUCKLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

Northern Advocate, 10 April 1911, Page 5

NORIH AUCKLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

THE EOYAL COMMISSIOIV.

FIRST SITTING IN AUCKLAND,

yiSIT WHANGAREI TO-MORROW.

ITINERARY DETAILS,

(Special to the "Advocate.")

AUCKLAND, April 10

The Special Railway Commission, appointed to ascertain the best route of the North Auckland main trunk railway from McCarroll's Gap to a junction with the Kawakawa-Hokianga railway (now in course of construction, met this morning in Auckland for the first time, Mr Vernon Reed, M.P., presiding.

The scope and duties of the Commission are as previously published in vfull in your columns.

"You will see," remarked the Chairman, after the order had been read, "'that the scope of the Commission is pretty extensive." There would first be an inquiry into the route known as the central line from McCarroll's Gap to Kaikohe, and then an inquiry into the respective merits of different iroutes by which it was suggested to junction the Kawakawa-Kaikohe line •with the Main Trunk line. In the west .came the Dargaville to Kaihu line, -which, when the extensoin was comjjleted, would contain about 20 miles of railway. In the east was the Graham-town-Opua line, which, when completed, would contain about 59 miles -of railway. Authorisation had also been made for an extension of tha: railway to Kaikohe, the constructio.i being now under way. It was expected, in fact, to have that section out of Jiand in aboiit two years. From KaiJrohe there'would be a further authorisation to Hokianga, a distance of about i2ojrniles.

If the central line was continued, he pointed out, the last line would form a part of the North Auckland Main Trunk line, and the section between Kaikohe and Kawakawa would form the connecting link between the OpuaKawakawa and.the Main Trunk line. 'The i-ailway from Auckland ran 75 imiles in the direction of McCarroll's •Gap, which roughly was about 103 miles from Auckland, and he understood that the co-operative workers were now about 86 miles from Auckland..

The work of the Commission woui-1 •largely depend upon expert evidence, ;£,rid sec-ing that this evidence would be /th£. -most important .evidence to be • dealt with in Auckland,, he suggested 'that "khe Commission first go over the localities and become conversant with ;thf requirements of railway.

He suggested, therefore, tliat they leave to-night for Wliangarei and take evidence there on the lltli and 12th; go to Opua by rail on the 13th; spend Good Friday in Russell and view the "harbor on the 15th; take evidence at Kawakawa on the 17th; drive to Kaikohe —the present objective of the Main Trunk line—take evidence there, and go south to the head of the Mangakahia valley on the 18th; take evidence at Hokianga on the 20th; Dargaville and Taungatauro on the 21st; and decide further after that.

The suggestion was adopted, and the Commission leave for Wliangarei this evening..

It was also decided to receive any voluntary evidence tendered.

The Commission will probably afterYards drive over the road from Wha•ugarei to, Waikiekie.