BY RAIL TO TAUPO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14767, 24 August 1911, Page 6

BY RAIL TO TAUPO.

TIMBER COMPANY'S SCHEME.

ADVOCATED BY THE MAYOR.

Tire proposal to bring Taupo within nine hours of Auckland by extending the Taupo-Totara Timber Company's railway, is strongly supported by the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. C. J. Parr). •

On being requested by a Herald representative yesterday to express his views on the subject, the Mayor stated that last autumn ho spent somo time at> Taupo. He realised then, as every visitor to Taupo did, how isolated and cutoff the place was by reason of the want of railway communication with the main Rotorua line. " I venture to say," he said, "that of every 100 people who go to Rotorua not one cares to undertake tho expensive, rough and arduous journey by coach and motor to Taupo. Taupo for the average person, is thus very effectually cut off from Auckland. As an Aucklander I cannot help deeply regretting the isolation of Taupo. The place has possibilities as a big central pleasure and health resort second to none in the Dominion. The finest air in New Zealand is found in the Taupo uplands. Tho finest fishing is to be got there. A great deal of the Taupo land now lying waste could bo" utilised for settlement, and if we Aucklanders watch, things properly Auckland should bo the only market for this district.

"This raises the question of railway construction. When 1 was there the residents and tourists were discussing the projected extension of the present laupo-Totara Timber Company's rail.way. This railway already runs ;:0 miles from the main Auck-land-Kotorua line to Mokai, and to complete it to Taupo only requires another lb miles of construction. There is much to ba said for allowing the company to finish its line, taking it through to Taupo, it some fair and equitable, arrangement to the jmblic can be made by the Government with the company. Under such an arrangement Taupo could be connected by rail with Auckland in a year or two and I am sure that much material benefit would accrue thereby both to Taupo and to Auckland. Tho alternative, of course is to wait until the Government does the work. The Government, however, has its hands full a present with railways under construction, and I am afraid Auckland and Taupo will have to wait a long time before the Government provides this particular railway connection. In the meant the whole district is being kept back, and everybody suffers. . I recognise (mite well the force of the objection to privately-owned railways, but I would lather have a privately-owned line with proper safeguards to the public and enjoy it in my life-time than have the pleasure of merely contemplating my grandchildren riding on the Government' isne. 1 fancy this, too, will bo the point oi view of the average citizen of Auckland.'

Taupo Railway League. Those present at the meeting at Taupo last Saturday, in connection with the proposed extension of the Taupo Totara Timber Company's railway, formed themselves into an association, under tho title of the Taupo District Railway League," and elected an executive committee of seven members to support, bv every means in its power, the company's application for the granting of a charter empowering it to complete the proposed extension. The committee, consisting of the chairman (Mr. Graham), Captain Thos. Ryan, Messrs. S. R. Palmer, Joseph Keckit, Joseph Crowther, and B C Dowry, with A. .1. Parkin as secretary, was instructed to carefully watch over and do its utmost to safeguard the interests of those living in the district by endeavouring to obtain provision in the charter of a scale of charges for freight on tho carriage of goods. ' A Delegate to "Wellington. Mr. R. 0. Hendy left by the Main Trunk express last night for Wellington, authorised by a number of Auckland gentlemen, who are interested in the property that will be affected by. the proposed extension of the railway "to Taupo, to :nterview the authorities in Wellington and to supply to them data regarding the country that would be brought into touch with Auckland markets by the construction of this railway. , A iarga industry would, it is stated, bo opened up in connection with manures, grass seeds, and building material. From the Mohaka Valley, again, large consignments of wool' would be brought via Auckland, that now have to go through Napier.