THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13647, 15 January 1908, Page 8

THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

MR. STEAD'S IMPRESSIONS. RAILWAY DISCOMFORTS. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] . Christchttech, Tuesday. ' Ms. G. G. Stead, who returned from bis ' recent -visit to Auckland, by way of the i Main Trunk line, has given * Pre.*? repre!sentative some of his impressions : of the : trip. From what he gathered in Auckland, I a common impression, existed that the land I between Te Kuiti and Taumaruntii was .very ' suitable. for settlement, and, that a large area of it was high-class plougbabie .land. Two of Mr. Stead's companions were practical farmers, and they were of opinion, after making tit**, journey, that no highclass land could.be seen from the railway, anywhere between the two points named. Of course there might be good land some distance away on either side of the line, hut certainly the land in the immediate vicinity of the railway was not very promising. Mr. Stead owned land in, the Auckland province 30 years ago, and has had some considerable experience of it. He feels satisfied that unless there is a better class of land at some distance from the railway line, there is nothing very promising in the neighbourhood of Taumarunui. On arrival at that settlement, despite the fact that the party had telegraphed for rooms two-days, .previously, only a shakedown was available for one, whilst two small rooms were available for the others. The landlady stated that she had had. to put up 140 guests for the night.. , Taumarunui completes, the line from Auckland south at present under the control of the Railway Department. Despite the fact that the Tourist Department advertises that passengers can be carried fiom Auckland to Wellington by first-class railway carriage and coaches for a. stated sum of money, yet as a. matter of fact the Public Works Department put only second-class carriages from Taumarunui to Makatote. Only very indifferent secondclass carriages were available on the dayMr. Stead travelled, for which first-class fares were charged. From Makatote to Ohakuno the party were transferred to Cobb and Co.'s coaches, but the traffic was so great that 19 or 20 passengers had to bestowed away in a coach built for 12.

At Ohaktmc another transfer was made to the railway, .which is also run by the Public Works Department. For this part of the journey so-called first-class carriages were provided, but they were unkempt, dirty, and uncomfortable to a degree.

"We were told," said Mr. Stead, "that the-Public Works Department did not- wantto carry passengers, but if that is so why should the Tourist Department advertise and encourage tourists to travel from Auckland to Wellington by the Main Trunk route? The construction of the Makatote viaduct is proceeding rapidly, aud when completed it will be a very high-class piece of engineering." On the ground, Mr. Stead met Mr. A. Anderson, who- said that the viaduct would be completed and tit for use in less than sax months. Up to, and after passing Ohakune, Mr. Stead's party were of opinion that the bulk of the land was not too promising. South of Waiouru, however, it commenced to improve, and apparently to the west of that stopping place, towards New Plymouth and Wa.nga.nui, there is land of excellent quality. At Mataroa the travel-' lers were transferred to a short section of the railway under the control of the Railway Department, where everything was fairly comfortable. A stop for the night was made TUihspe. . There <was some very promising land in the neighbourhood of Taihape, and the settlors between there and Marton all appeared to be prosperous. At present passengers have to leave Taihape at sir o'clock in the morning, and have no chance of. obtaining reasonable refreshment until they reach Palmerston at 11.40. Mr. Stead mentioned that he had heard it stated lately that "cold ten" was obtainable without difficulty in the prohibition districts of the King Country. Out of curiosity he*"ji<ade inquiries from time to time, and so far, as he could learn, nothing beyond a cup vi hot tea or " hop beer" was obtainable -'■■ any of the refreshment houses. There 'night be secret- stores that are available for certain known friends of the ac-comimxhi'tion-hoiwe keepers., but Mr. Stead is confident that intoxicants are not readily obtainable by the travelling public generally.

" The trip," Mr. Stead concluded, " is an interesting one, and if it were made more comfortable no doubt many people would travel that way to Auckland. At present there is no effort to make it a, pleasant journey."