EAST COAST RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13193, 2 June 1906, Page 6

EAST COAST RAILWAY.

ifl CONFERENCE OF PROVINCIAL LEAGUES. §'■ ' PROGRESSIVE POLICY p V ' ADVOCATED. , l : > REQUIREMENTS OF the DISTRICT. A-' conference of representatives of tlio furious railway league? in the Auckland province and other public bodies interested in the proposed East Coast railway was held under the auspices of the Auckland Railways League at the Chamber of Commerce rooms yesterday afternoon. There was a large at- ; tendance, representing all parts of tho pro-' ; vince from Auckland to Gisborne, and keen . interest was manifested in the proceedings, ■: which were marked throughout by hearty ,- enthusiasm and thorough unanimity. In tho Absence of the president of the Auckland .Railways League (Mr. A. M. Myers, Mayor of Auckland), Mr. H. C. Tevvsley, vice-pre-i : sident of' the league, presided. The various bodies taking part wero represented as follows : —- Auckland Railways League, Mewis. M. A.Clark, 0. L. I'eacoeke. 11. llobbs, T. Coatrs, A. Hell, ■-fli «nd R.. K. limit (secretary): Gisborne Railway league, Motors. ,1. Toutiley (.Major), J. Whinray, A. F. Kennedy,- V. P. Elliott, W. .1. P. Ciandin; ■ ' Katikati Railway League, Messrs. G. V. Stewart and Mervyrj Stewart; Taurangn Railway League, Mr.' 0. A. Wild ; Buy of -Plenty Hallway League, Mi'. H. K. Hogg (vice-president); To Puke HailJLi. t way : League. Messrs. 11. J. Gill (chairman) and |Ms>;:ji.'W.-'llarr»yWaihi Borough Council. Messrs. j!v' 'J'liomifi Gilmour (Mayor) unci I). Donaldson: Thames Borough Council, Messrs. Bums (Mayor) and Lowe; Oltinemuri County Council. Messrs. H. -Poland. M.11.R., and Tiezise; Whakatane County Council, Mr. Peebles (chairman); Opoliki County Council. Mr. Gow (chairman); Opotiki ; Town Board. Mr. Addis (chairman); Paparoa branch of North Island Trunk League. Mr. K. W. Wilson; Kauhia Railway League, Mi. T. D. Hamilton; Auckland Chamber of Commerce, ' Messrs. J. B. Maotarltwc (president) and I. Evans j-',!-, {vice-president). - Representatives from the Farmers' Union also attended. The. following members of the Legislature were present: The Hon. James Carroll. Native Minister and member for Waiapu; the Hons. Major Harris and W. .T. Beehan, Jl.'sL.C.; Messrs. F. E. Baume, A. Kidd, C. If. Poole, V. , Lawrv, W. F. Massev, E. W. Alison, M..M. Kiikbride, W. 11. llerries, H. Po- ■ land, J. Stallworthy, and Ilenaro Kaihau. - • M.'bH.R. A large number of other citizens were ' *lso present, including Messrs. S. Vaile, J. MoLachlan, W. R. Bloomfield. and others. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. J. Bollard and H. J. Greenslade, M.'s I!., Messrs. Leo "Myei«, John Burns, I). Goldic, and W. \V. Mo- ■ Cardie. THE CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS. f, In opening the proceedings Mr. Tewsley said the matters to be brought before the meeting .were ..of.' vital importance. The Auckland 'Railways• League' had been, for tome considerable time past, a somewhat email body, .dealing to some extent with ; - small matters, but now they saw ail evoluj tion, and found the league taking up a position "of very great importance and one, he s; trusted, the whole of the rest, of the comh munity would appreciate at its value. Ho ;• .referred to tho visit of Sir J. G. Ward' with regard to-the Penrose duplication, and said Ifj.Ythe result everyone would admit was ••' thoroughly satisfactory. A number of memS>j - bers of the leaguo accompanied the Premier to-the opening of the last section of the v-North Auckland line, and the Premior stated I'V he had great pleasure in welcoming such a large body as the league. With regard to ■ - • the Main Trunk line the league had inter- »•' viewed the. Hon. ■W. ' Hall-Jones, and had ■'v.-tlv*, satisfaction of . knowing that ho appre- , ' dated the. work the league was doing. Their platform, as an Auckland Railways League, had been.' enlarged so.as to co-operate with Gisborne and ,\Vaihi. The league, as constituted) embraced all shades of political V' opinion, and, ho thought, in that lay ' its !■': strength. ' Tho 'eaguo had taken the initially e in calling together that conference, ami '^;||ci^*f or? nothing ,olsc; it would have justified •,$?, its-'exisfence. The province of Auckland had the. largest population of any portion of the ifj colony, and the league felt that its duty was sf:?:fftjn"'no. way, to look back lo the past, but to Wrf- look forward. They wanted to see improved |i> ;itransport facilities ami the opening up of Jpv'Ctlje'; lands rof .the province.' The Hon. Mr. Carroll had said that as far as. an Auckland* / Gisborne lino was concerned the matter had ' beyond mere' local politics—(hear, hear)— £pf.'and that, until thev. could get.Unity amongst ' f' aH;, the portions of the country affected be- .? 'tween Auckland. Waihi. and Gisfcoruo they 'could not expect to make the progress they { should. The meeting there of delegates from Sy?sV a ll portions of the route, said Mr. Tewsley. i , " ' continuing, was sufficient indication that i,V'; they meant . business. The league's war- ' ■'! '.cry up;-to-the present had been "Agitato. *gita.te. agitate," but he thought they should (til also' adopt a motto. ".Union'is.strength." fefi (Applause.)k They intended to approach this business not from , any political , standpoint, but as business men in a business-like way. v. ; They wanted the Northern metropolis connected with the: important eastern port of Gisborno by rail, and they did not want any fekrepetition of the Stratford busings. • (Hear, hear.) Had it not been for such "divergence , of opinion ■ Auckland ; v and Now Plymouth 1 . would have been connected by rail long ago. (Hear hear.) .The league felt that the responsibility lay with the delegates to say whether they were to have concerted action. I »nd- if so'.. then lie ■ had - not the slightest ! ■■ tbubt that the lino between 1 Gisljoriie and Auckland would be placed in tin- position- . : of the most vital importance to New Zealand. The^meeting was called purely and \ simply to discuss the Auckland-Gislx>rne rail- ■ way, and there would be no room for the ■ introduction of side issues. , He then .de- ?;'• clared the conference'opened. ' :

* THE PRINCIPLE; AFFIRMED. J • »Mr, G. L. Peacock® said' that for a great many years past it had been the desire of |p;|i'^i'eve r T business man who had thought of the future :of ; Auckland - to see Auckland con- ■ nected by rail with Poverty Bay. There ■i- n could be no doubt in the minds of any that V/--.' ' the line between Gisboi-ne and Auckland was on© of the most important that could be ad- ■/ ' vocated. This lino was one the Auckland province , could ' conscientiously support, as , not.only was it in the interests of the dis- ,, ■ ' trict concerned, but also' in the interest of .*•? /'■ the whole colony—not lifee some others, $.?)■ which were pushed ahead. in the hope that settlement would follow them. The Auck- ■ land-Gisborno line would not only bo tapping '' ■ rich -and productive country along the whole route, but" it would connect, two very importaut centres. Th? rich , country in between Vc.',; was paying taxes'and yet deriving absolutely y r r ' no benefit from the railway system of the , cOlony. , It could .ha conscientiously said '. this was a national work, and should l>e • undertaken at once and proceeded with at a 'fh good, rate, at , a rate of rapid and steady iftel progress. - Railway construction at the rate ■' of one or two miles a year was-one of those •. • things which always seemed to him to waste more public money than anything else. ■ (Hear, hear.) kHe moved,

' V That this meeting • respectfully iitkm the Government to construct the important AucklandGiaborne railway with all speed.

Mr. J. Townley (Mayor of Gisborne) seconded the resolution. . He spoke of the collie' 4, ; struct of the first ' section of the railway P from Gisborne to Karaka, and the success that-had attended the working of it. Speak* &./ ing of the Cook - County, ho said that, it was ' the sixth in value in New Zealand, the total value being £3,992,006. The total population off the county was about 12,000, and the exports last year amounted to ■ £701,513, being - , the" seventh in valuo in the colony. ;He re- ~ ferred to the special importance of pushing • r O< • or the railway to Motu, and thus enabling i' - the valuable timber areas there to be tappod. already .constructed from Gisborne • I' 0 Karaka had paid working expenditure and interest, on almost the whole of the cost last year. He thought they would be justified in asking the Government to place a substantial sum on the Estimates this year towards the 'i extension of this iine. He did not know 1 , whether they should.ask that, the line should • be started at both ends, but the best plan » was to urge the extension of the line from .. Karaka to Motu. From £100,000 to £150,000 t V should be placed on the Estimates for the ■work. As to. the question .of the route' of the. connection with Auckland that was a matter that - - should be loft to the Govern-* went and their responsible advisor?, j' ' Mr. J. W. Whinray (Gisborne) spoke to the . motion, and _ made special reference om4 to the extensive and valuable timber areas at ,y ot "- A rouarh estimate obtained fmfl nnnn™u' en ''V i '", t pave t,K! quantity as SOOjOOO, and the area in question was it' r ?^ a ll Proportion of the bush. At the i A 000TI 6r , IX!r 100 Ft the value was £; 2 £- 000 - . The railway freight on this timcomputing jt at the. low figure of 2s per fte;. IWft.. would be £910,000, which was Miffi|,tU eient to build the line to Motu three times • over... The route of the other portion of the feiT railway was a matter for the Government to ■>; ; } de - r™ h ° n .the - present :.section at the Gisborne end was.started some people said would not pay for axle grease, but the re- -)-■ - turns for April, after the busy season was 1 Oyer, were double the expenditure. ■0.. The resolution was carried unanimously. ff. WAIHI KATIKATI ROUTE ADOPTED. • Mr." Donaldson (Waihi)' moved, . .. . . ■ '. That the route. desired by (Iris meeting is from Waihi, -Katikatl, and Tanranya to Opotiki; from thencc they leave it in the Lands of the Govern- ;' . ' meat to .'decide. ' * • •

The route indicated, he said, was the only practicable one, and lie trusted that no small party or local, considerations would bo permitted to stand in the way of unanimity in,this matter.and thus give the Government an excuse for hanging up the whole work. He spoke of the vast gold producing potentialities of Waihi, which, lie said, was destined to become one of the largest inland towns in New Zealand. It was, therefore important that the proposed railway connection between Auckland and Gisborne .should not miss this large centre of population. At the same time the proposed railway would open up the vast area of undeveloped land in the Bay of Plenty ; district, and thus afford an outlet to Waihi's growing population, whilst Waihi in turn would be one of (ho best customers of the Bay of Plenty. As showing that the route advocated apparently had the support of the Government he pointed out that the present aihi railway station had been left about a mile out of the town in order to ensure the right curve being obtained in ultimately carrying 011 the line to Tauranga. The route proposed was the shortest one. and it afforded the best grades, and it should therefore be supported by the Auckland, Waihi, and Bay of Plenty people. From a national point ot view the route he supported had also much to recommend it, as it would play an important part, in a scheme of coastal defence. He quoted the opinions of the late Sir Alfred Cadman, who. as recently stated in the New Zealand Herald, had strongly supported the route now being advocated, and the Hons. J as. McGowan and Jas. Carroll had also expressed similar views 011 the matter. Mr. G. A. Ward (Tauranga), in seconding the resolution, said that his district, which was nearly in the centre of the proposed line, had languished move than any other district in Now X* , o«tluucl through tho lack of communication in the past. It was true that Tauranga had a nice harbour. but that would not do everything, especially when it. was at tho bottom of a, oay out. of the regular route of sea-borne traffic. As snowinsr the progress of Tauranga ho mentioned that, the population. of the town had increased between 10 and 15 por cent, during the past, five years (most, if not the whole, of tho increase haTing taken place during tho past three years), whilst the population of the Tauranga County hac. increased fully 20 per cent. They exported from the district every year about 6000 head of fat cattle, and between 65,000 and 100.000 bags of maize, as well as other produce. Iho railway would give them tie. opportunity to send produce to tho \\ aihi market, air he thought the route mentioned was the most feasible one. As for the route between Opotiki and Motu, that should be left to the Government to settle. . . Tho motion was carried unanimously.

the working- SURVEYS. Mr. Gilmou (Mayor of Waihi) moved :

That the meeting further urge# upon the Gosibte.

He wished the promoters of the every success. ale endorsed Mi. lJonaici son's remarks regarding the route, ciiHUa.d it would' be ridiculous to the Rotorua or any other route. J-he Katikati and. adjacent districts were improving every vear, and there was a good future in stoufor that, part of the colony. Mr Peebles (chairman of the \\ hakatane County Council), in seeouding the resolution, Mitl that the Whakatane County contained' over 17.000 square miles and over 800.000 acres of native land waiting to be developed. There was now no land in the district available for European settlement, and he hoped that the Government would push on with the settlement of the native lands. Last year his district, with a population of under 1200, produced over 200 tons of cheese, 100 tons of butter, and 1000 to 1500 fat bullocks. The route indicated by tlie -previous; resolution- would oonent. ins district very materially. The resolution was. Carried 1 unanimously.

CONSTRUCTION AT BOTH ENDS. Mr. A. F. Kennedy (Gisborne) moved:

That tho 'Government be _ urged to' place a substantial sum' on the Estimates to carry •, on construction -at both cuds of the line. .. .

He said the work had been started at the other end. and they did' not want to see- it muddled along by co-operative works a Usborne end. and' nothing being done at Inc. Auckland end. The Gisborne people were not. wedded to any particular route; they wanted the. lino to go on, and not .stop. Mi'Herrics had said that it was felt that the Gisborne people Were hardly loyal, and all they wanted was to get to their timber areas. He (the speaker) gave Mr. Hemes an assurance that the object, of the (ijsjjoine people was to got connectod with ijie mam railway system of the colony. the Gisborne delegates esteemed it a great compliment to be called to confer with so largo and important a meeting, and he gave the meeting a promise of very hearty support 'from the Gisborne end.' They' Felt, at Gisborne that they were in one of the. most neglected districts of ; the Roadless Nortn, and lie trusted that, the- legislators present would take note. The weight, of that meeting must convince-them that they could not neglect- a motion like the one ho had moved when it- came before the House. In Gisborne they had to fight a. very hard battle with bad .roads, and a had harbour. Ho had been connected with trade in Gisborne for 15 years - , and could speak of its progress in spite of its bad harbour. Fifteen years ago 8000 bales of wool went out, and last year there were 20,000 bales. Fifteen years ago the freezing works were on a hulk cutin the harbour, and the trade amounted to 25,000 carcases, while- this year o\er 400.000 carcases were frozen, and that ou f of a stocl>- return of nearly one million and a-half sheep. The people there wanted something more than they were getting, and demanded it in the shape of a railway. Great arean of timber were being destroyed; between 30,000 and 40,000 acres were under the axe last year, and this year quite as much. The destruction was extending back to tin* Motu, and there was timber there that they did not want to sec destroyed, but it would have to go unless a railway could bo taken ; in. (Applause.) ; Mr. Gow (chairman of the Opotiki County Council) seconded tho motion, and said that for long the East Coast had languished under the neglect, which the people- there failed' to see any reason for. His district formed part of one which, ho believed, was second to none- in the North -Island, unless it were that vast extent of fine grazing country between Wellington' and "New (Plymouth.-. He believed that between Gisborne and Opotiki was one of the finest and -best productive grazing districts in the whole of the- colony, ■and tlrafc»it should have remained in its present position 'so long was a blot on the administration of all the Governments that had been carrying on the affairs of the colony. He was pleased that public attention had l been attracted to this matter, and he thought they should sink all local ideas, and present one united front. He believed if they were able to do that they would attain success, and that, united, they were bound to .suececd. Tho resolution proposed by Mr. Kennedy was one of a practical nature. Small sums had been spent on the line at Karaka, and even that small unit in the line was paying its way. If this line was continued, and continued with some degree of rapidity, he did not think there was tho slightest doubt that it would pay from the outset. Other lines had been started that were, not productive, and would not be productive until completed', but the AucklandGisborne line would pay . from tho outset, and, seeing that was the case, they could, with perfect confidence, approach the Government, and ask it not to undertake this work in any half-hearted way, but with some degree of energy, to that it might be. completed within thoir lifetime. The system of driblets to various lilies was a very pernicious one. . He- was pleased to see the great advance that Auckland had made since la.st census. He believed it would prove one of the finest cities in the colonies, and if it wanted to attain the 100,000 population it should bo connected with the East Coast by railway, and he hoped, therefore, that the whole force of the representation of the electorates at this end would be contributed, so that the Auckland-Gisborne connection might be completed within reasonable time. (Applause.) The motion was then carried unanimously.

THE PAEROA-POKENO SECTION. Mr. J. Stewart. C.E., moved,

That with the view of ultimately shortening the length if line between 'Auckland and Hisborne the fiovernment be asked to sim-ev the proposed Paeron-Pokeno feet ion, whereby 44 miles will be saved by avoiding the journey through the Waikato.

Illustrating his remarks by means of a map of the locality Mr. Stewart pointed out that an East Coast railway to Waihi would have a long round-about connection, via Te Aroha, whereas a lino running from Poke no, near Mercer, across to Miranda, and then over the I lako swamp country to Paeroa would mike a direct routo to Auckland. This route would not only shorten the line verv much, but it would go through at least 54 miles of tome of the best -alluvial'country that could be found. . Ho could say from his knowledge of tidal drainage works- that tljero was no difficulty in , niakl »« the whole of. that area thoroughly dry and richly productive. Mr. " Vincent. Pyk® (Gisborne) 'briefly seconded the motion, and. spoke of tl,.'. advantage of the quickest and most direct connection with Auckland by rail. lie resolution was carried unanimously.;

PETITIONS TO PARLIAMENT. • .Mr. H. E. Hogg (vice-president of the Bay of Plonty Railway League) moved, That each of the railway leagues interested in the Auckland-Olsborne. railway do issue their own petition to the Howe praying tor construction of the railway.

He said many of the speakers had alluded to the neglected corner of the Roadless North comprised in the area, between Waihi and the Motu and Gisborne. With the exception of the Hon. Mr. Carroll, Mr. Herries, and Mr. Bollard, no members of the House had ever been in the country between Tauranga and the Motu. The New Zealand Herald had lately advocated the forming of a Provincial Congress, and ho thought that an excellent, idea. The whole province should undoubtedly bo united, and the East Coast at present felt out of the world. It. was to tho interest of all classes in the community from end to end of Auckland province that, there should be a grand union, and he thought it was time the people of Auckland city took more interest in the great and rich country of the East Coast. (Applause.)

A DEPUTATION TO PARLIAMENT. Mr. Elliott (Motu) moved,

That a deputation representing each of the districts concerned lie sent to the House dining the coming session to back up the petitions. Ho gave details of the Motu settlement, and said that owing to the lack of railway connection right through from Gisborno to Motu not ten per cent, of . the goods for the latter place went over the Gisborne-Karaka line. If the railway paid at present it would pay much better when it was extended to Motu. Speaking of the timber in his district lie said that the 20,000 acres mentioned by Mr. Whinray was a very small portion of the total timber of the , district. There was in all about 200,000 acres of good bush, some 250,000 acres of Crown laud, and a similar are.*, of native lands riot yet. opened, all along tho route of the railway. There was also about a million acres in the Urewera country, and about- the same, area between the proposed railway and the coast. He quoted from the report of Mr. Reusingtin, Government surveyor, in regard to the heavily timbered areas, the estimated quantities in different blocks ranging from 25,000 ft. to 120,000 ft per acre. As showing the cost of cartage between Gisborne and his district during the winter months he said that it might he anything from £4- 10; to £7 a ton. A 10s load of pumpkins Mould cost about £4- 10s in cartage. • v Mr. Merv'yn Stewart (Ivatikati). in seconding the motion, said it was gratifying that the city of Auckland had at last determined to assist in securing fair play for the country districts. He would continue to stir up the people of his district as far as possible towards securing the, desired end. The resolution, carried unanimously.

THE MAMAKU-TE PUKE LINE.

Mr. H. Gill (TeT'uke) moved,

That this meeting respectfully urges upon the Government the necessity lor at once commencing the survey front Mamaku to Te Puke on the Tauranga line.

This line, -lie said, had been brought prominently before the public during the past few months by tho. visit of the Minister for Public Works. This work should form a portion of the East Coast connection.- The Te Puke district was one of the most fertile on the East Coast-, and at present it sent, out alpout one-fourth of the fat stock consumed in the Auckland district. Taking the lattsi as being about 25,000 bead a year the output was a very considerable one. The line could be constructed very cheaply, tho estimated cost of' the'earthwork being only £3000 a mile. The railway, which -would only be about. 30 miles' in length, and tho survey of which had already been promised, wo'uld pay handsomely, and it was a line that should be* constructed within the next, ten years, • while the. matter of the through connection with Gisborne would probably be a question of several years. , .Mr. Harray. (To 'Puke), seconded the molion. and 'urged that the. line ill question should , lie pushed on with ,as quickly as possible. He spoke of the growing importance of Rotorua and the necessity that existed for giving.it connection with the proposed East Coast railway system. The MamakuTe Piike line would -ensure this.connection.

' The resolution was carried unanimously;. The meeting terminated with a vote o-l thanks to the chairman and the members ol the Auckland League.

The Chairman, in acknowledging the vote, said he hoped some permanent benefit would result from the conference, and that t«*3 weight of their unanimous decisions would be a power for srood when the matter camo before Parliament.

Petitions are already in circulation in the. Mara mania, and Maungatawhiri districts asking for the survey and construction of the first section of the Pokeno-Paeroa line.