NORTH OF AUCKLAND RAILWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13278, 10 September 1906, Page 5

NORTH OF AUCKLAND RAILWAYS.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER FOR

PUBLIC WORKS.

| HI" TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington", Saturday. A deputation' of Auckland members, arranged by Mr. Mander, waited upon the Minister " for Public Works (Mr. HallJones) to-day for the purpose of urging the claims of the North of Auckland railways now under construction. In addition to Mr. Mander, there were present Messrs. Houston, Stallworthy Baunie, Kidd, Poole, Massey, Pollard, Kirkbride, Greenslade, Poland, and Herries.

Mr. Mander thanked the Minister for the improved progress made on the Helensville Northward line during the past year, and expressed a hope that the work would he pushed ahead with even greater vigour during the coming year, with the object of getting the lino opened to Maungaturoto as soon as possible. To this end he asked that the survey of the line from Wellsford to Maungaturoto should be carried out with the least possible delay. He also asked that the Hukerenui-Kawakawa connection should lie pushed forward with more vigour. ,

Mr. Stallworthy supported the remarks of Mr. Mander, and also urged on the Minister the desira.bleness of constructing a line from Kaihu to Hokianga.

Mr. Houston, in his remarks, referred particularly to the necessity for completing the Hukerenui-Kawakawa line, and he. expressed the opinion that the WhangareiGrahoantown extension might be slopped, with a view to concentrating more energy on the Kawakawa extension.

Mr. Mander said he did not wish if to be understood that he was opposing the Grahamtown extension. This work had now, gone so far that it- ought to be completed, but be regarded the HukerenuiKawakawa. section as more important.

Mr. -Bollard also spoke in support of the object of the deputation. He expressee* the opinion that the trains should regularly connect with the steamers at Mount Bex Wharf, beyond Helensville. Mr. Hall-Jones, in reply, said that it was his intention to push on the North Auckland lines now in progress as fast as funds would aillow. In regard to the Helensville Northward line, he said that the people ought to be satisfied with what had been done during the past year. He would endeavour to maintain the same rate of progress during the coming year, but ho could not promise to accelerate it, as every additional mail put on that line, meant one "less on the Main Trunk line. The latter was the most important work, and should receive first consideration. As to the Kawakawa-Hukerenui section, lie also recognised the importance of that connection, and would push it forward as-quickly as possible. As to Mr. Manders request for the survey from Wellsfordi to Maungaturoto. he would endeavour to have that carried out during the coining year. Referring to the question of the Hokianga extension mentioned by Mr. Stallworthy, he said he did not feel disposed to undertake any more lines until those jiow in course of construction were completed. He would also inquire into the question of the running of the trains to the Mount Rex Wharf.