OVERLAND TO WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13353, 6 December 1906, Page 5

OVERLAND TO WELLINGTON.

A THREE DAYS' JOURNEY

[BY TKJ.EGKAI'It. — ASSOCIATION.]

Wki.i.in'oton', Wednesday. Wiikn' the couch connection is made —probably in alxuit three weeks' —between the north and the south end of the Main Trunk line of railway, the. coach and train journey between Auckland and Wellington will take three days, the middle one being all coaching, with the exception of a little bit of train. The proposed day stages, according to the Taihape Post, are:—Wellington to Taihape by train, stopping a night at Taihape ; Taihape to Raurimu by couch, and then a train to bring the passengers to Taumaranui, where the second night is spent then Taumarunui to Auck# land by train. These details are not, however, definitely fixed. The middle day's coaching is likely to attract many tourists this summer.

The Minister tor Public Works could not say definitely this morning whether a permanent coach .service was being actually arranged, but stated that during the session. the proprietor of a line of coaches was making inquiries about distances, etc. apparently with a, view to doing something in the direction indicated.

The Minister stated that very good progress i.s being made 011 the 'trunk lint at present, and a good step forward .should be made this .summer, particularly on the southern end. Mr. Hall-Jones states that 011 tiie northern end various works connected with the spiral on each side of the tunnel are in hand. The line for several miles beyond that point it. also under way. The construction works on the section which includes the spiral will he practically completed before any attempt will be made to lay the rails.