THE MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY ROUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11432, 24 July 1900, Page 6

THE MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY ROUTE.

MEWS OF THE REV. HENRY J. FLETCHER.

As a great deal has been heard of the large areas of pumice land and the barren state of a portion of the country said to exist on the proposed Central route fo. the Main Trunk railway, a Herald representative yesterday waited on the Rev. henry James Fletcher, of the Presbyterian Maori Mission, whose wide field of'labour necessitates his travelling over a large section of the country in question, with a view to eliciting information as to the quality of the land through which the line would pass, and the suitability of the route. Mr. Fletcher is well acquainted with the district from the Poro-o-tarao tunnel to Kawakawa and Turangarere, has passed over the land many times during his six years with the mission, and should therefore be in a position to speak with some authority. "You have seen the statements with regard to the Central line and the large area of deep pumice that is said to run through it, and convert it into a veritable deport incapable of settlement or occupation, I presume, Mr. Fletcher '/"

" Yes ; I have both seen the statements and passed over the country mentioned, and must say that the statements are not warranted. Fo„ instance, the townships of Raetihi, Ohakune, and Karioi, which are on the Central route, are all thriving, the settlers have portions of their land in grass, and a good deal is being done in the way of dairy farming. There is a creamery at Raetihi."

" As to the pumice areas spoken of, where are they '■" " Mainly between Turangarere and Kawakawe, the point of divergence. of the-pro-posed Stratford route. At the other end of the line there are thousands of settlers, the famous Awarur. Block having been taken up. A point that seems to have been overlooked in town if that the opening up of the Stratford line would mean the. expenditure of a very large sum of money, probably more than million, before it could be made fit to carry a train at a. high speed. Ono piece between Wanganui and Marton would ccst th. best part of £i 560,000 before the line could be straightened and the grades improved to allow of the running of fast trains."

"You sen no reason why the land on the Central route should not offer encouragement to settlement '!"

" Certainly not ! The country between the Poro-o-tarao tunnel and Turangarero may be classed as second-class land, that between the latter point and Karioi as good land, and thence on as first-class land.

" Even the poorest of the land could be settled '("

" Yes, I see no reason why it should not. The poorest portions are covered with bush, and grass should always grow on cleared forest ground." " Objections have been urged against the climate; much has been made of its severity, snow and frost. Is there any truth in this." . ' ,

,-." In some of the more elevated portions on the other side of the lulls the mow limy lie for short periods, but I do not, on the whole, see any reason why the whole of the country should not be , settled. The lands on some of the highest points are being taken up, and large areas are being profitably devoted to ; Bheep-vaismg."- .