MORE RAILWAYS NEEDED

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14940, 13 March 1912, Page 8

MORE RAILWAYS NEEDED

THE PAEROA-POKENO LOOP.

WAIUKU AND KAWHIA

BRANCHES,

AUCKLAND LEAGUE'S ACTIVITY.

Now that the Waihi-Tauranga section of the East Coast railway has been com-

menced from the Wailii end, and a promise has been given that it will bo speedily prosecuted, the energies of the Auckland Railways League are free to bo diverted into another channel. With a view to ascertaining what tho policy of the league will bo henceforth, a Herald representative yesterday interviewed the president (Mr. G. L. Peacocke) on tho subject.

"It will bo our policy now," said Mr. Peacocke, '' to bring prominently under the notice of whatever Government is in power tho great importance of beginning the work of constructing a loop-line from Paeroa to some point on tho Main Trunk line near Pokeno. Tho main argument in favour of taking this work in hand at the earliest possible moment is that it will reduce the distance by rail between,' Auckland and tho Hauraki goldficlds by ! at least 44 miles. This saving of distance will also ultimately apply to the whole of tho Bay of Plenty district, when the main line lias been completed through to Opotiki, and afterwards to Gisborne." Another feature in favour of the proposed Pacroa-Pokeno line to which Mr. Peacocke made rcferenco was- tho fact that for almost tho entire distance it would traverse the Hauraki Plains. The latter being absolutely level, would entail very few curvoa, making haulage easy and construction work cheap. The Government is expending a large sum of money on drainage works, and of course tho provision of railway connection with Auckland and the Main Trunk lino would also greatly promote the success of the settlers, : the Government are placing on this valu-' able block of country. Waiuku to Pukekohe. A second branch lino of importance, in that it would act as a valuable "feeder" for the traffic of the Main Trunk, was mentioned by the president of the league as being also worthy of attention. This is the proposed Waiuku connection to join the main line at a point near Pukekohe. This line, ho pointed out, would give railway facilities to tho thickly populated agricultural districts of Awitu, Waipipi, and Waiuku. Owing to the geographical features of the country these are now, and have always been, cut off from the benefits of railway connection with Auckland, although they are comparatively close to the city.

Kawhia to Main Trunk Line. A third line which Mr. Peacocke considered any Government ought to take into serious consideration as a work to bo undertaken at an early date is a branch connecting Kawhia with the Main Trunk line. Tho settlers interested have, ho said, been clamouring for this lino for a considerable time. It would open up and givo added value to a largo area of Crown lands well adapted to settlement. Also, such a branch railway would probably develop a good deal of business traffic in connection with the timber industry.

Tho Auckland Railways League, the president indicated, will, at its next meeting, take all these proposed branch lines into consideration, with the view of deciding what course to follow with regard to them.