RAILWAY TO KAWHIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15061, 2 August 1912, Page 8

RAILWAY TO KAWHIA.

TO SERVE A RICH AREA. BENEFITS OF THE LINE. A TRIAL SURVEY PROMISED. frlT TI'.r.KGBAPIX.— SPECIAL ODTIP.KSVON'bENT.] ■ ■;....... Wellington", Thursday. - A sratßEß of residents of Kawhia and the neighbouring district waited uj>on the Minister for Public, Works (Hon. W. Eraser) this evening, to ask that tho Main Trunk railway should be linked up with Kawhia Harbour. The deputation was introduced by Mr, C. K. Wilson (Taumarunui), and accompanied by Mr. J. A. Young (Waikato). ;... . •: :.,:. . Mr W. Shaw (chairman of the Kawhia County Council) said that the lino from the Main Trunk to Kawhia would pay from the very outset, it would serve tho Ohura, Waitorno, and Awakino Counties, some, of tho southern end of the Waikato country, and portions of the Raglan' and Taupo counties. Mr. Ceo. G. Jonathan (chairman of the Kawhia Town. Board) said that freight on tEe general lines to tho district repre- : sented, cost as much as 60s a ton. To give tho communication asked for would reduce freights probably by 50 per cent. The absence of tins railway hod hindered tho progress of timber milling. The building of a lino to Kawhia would probably lead to tho establishment of a. freezing works at that port. The .Minister said that the line had not I yet been authorised, so that the utmost he could do would be to have a Hying sur- j vey made, with a view to forming a rough : idea as to the best route. lb was to be i remembered that a detailed survey might necessitate a departure of some miles from the lino fixed in the trial survey. Ho could not say what would be done in con- j neetion with the authorisation of the line, | but certainly it could not be done, this j year. If the necessary officers could pos-1 sibly be spared, ho would have a trial i survey ordered. Like other members of the Cabinet lie sympathised with the needs of back block settlers. He would promise them at any rate that the matter would not simply be "kept steadily in view," It might be possible to locate the terminus of the railway prior to surveying the route as a whole. Members of the deputation thanked the Minister, and invited him to visit their fcrict. Mr. Eraser stated that he would have pleasure in accepting tho invitation if ho could spare the time.