BRANCH RAILWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14820, 25 October 1911, Page 9

BRANCH RAILWAYS.

<■» A vote : of £15,000 is included in tha Public Works Estimates to enable a start to be made .with; the Ohakune to Raetihi railway., There is an alternative route from Bangataua to Raetihi, and it lias not been definitely decided which one the railway will follow. The length of the line will be about nine miles, and whichever route is followed a large number of. sawmillers will be provided with a means of access to the Main Trunk railway. The agitation for the railway deserved, (writes our Taihape ' correspondent'), to meet with success, if only on account ol its persistency, and if a similar persistent agitation is "indulged in for another yeas or two the line may eventually be extended to Wanganui. The'Wanganui Chamber of Commerce is now moving in this direction, and it is to be hoped that the efforts of that body to have the railway extended will meet with success. The extension of the railway to Wanganui would mean a great deal to .sawmillers on the Main Trunk railway, as it would give easy access to a port from' which their product could be shipped. : Besides being advantageous to - a large number of sawmillers the connection with the nearest port would greatly benefit a large number of settlers" and aid considerably in the settlement, of a large area of good agricultural, and '.i pastoral; land. In .the meantime, the sawmillers concerned are well satisfied \ with the -success of their agitation for the railway; but, the matter will not ';'; rest ; until the extension to; Wanganui is an accomplished fact. •