NORTH AUCKLAND MAIN TRUNK LINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13875, 8 October 1908, Page 8

NORTH AUCKLAND MAIN TRUNK LINE.

Sir,—ln seems rather strange to those a® quaintod with the great contention going on. at present as to which route should be taken by the North Auckland railway after passing the Topuni that the Minister for Railways : as well as other members of 1 Parliament should have their valuable, time wasted by 1 ' being V interviewed by one or two private * individuals who, without doubt, are working for themselves, and care not for the wants of tho groat majority. The matter could very easily b« settled if the .Minister for Rail- , ways accompanied by a few unbiased mem- 1 ' bers of the House took the trouble to go over tho country and see into the merits of the different; routes for themselves. . j Tbo < route, if altered at the Topuni, would pass over comparatively level country, avoid tio construction of three . tunnels, - reaching '• Young's Point, across the Otamatea River, , through Bickeretaff, and then into Maunga-.' turoto, shortening the distance considerably.v • The cost of.the Otamatea bridge would brffi; . small in comparison to the tunnels and deep' ' cuttings the other way. Why the Pukckarorc route would prove most expensive and .disss-, trous no one can better explain .than'.the member for Marsden, Mr. Mander, who, if ho looks back a few years, will remember' how, futile his attempts were to run a,light - locomotive on tram lines for the purpose of*'."' hauling logs.- After many fruitless 'at- ! ; tempts the engine was discarded, owing ito - ' the boggy and sliding nature of the country,•;■: horse traction being resorted to. Nevertheless "~. this •is the country through which- the Government exports purpose running the line,;'•. which, will cost about £17,000 a -mile'in places, and that will not be tho last costfWjL* there will bo never-ending slips to ■ contend l l > with. If tho railway: bridge-across the Ota-I " matea'Riyer was made available for traffic,';il. ,'. would bo a- great saving to tho western tricts, shortening tho distance between Pijjsa.-. i roa and Kaiwaka by about 14 miles. : The, railway .touching.* at. Young's Point will enable many settlers to connect by water with ;, same, which they cannot do otherwise, havings, no roads. • Steamers can meet the train there 8 at any state of the tide. .. . •; . Northern* Settlbk;,, .•