NEW RAILWAY SUGGESTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15132, 24 October 1912, Page 8

NEW RAILWAY SUGGESTED.

'"'■■;-{Hi''';/» :i '/;i;".:ir'-\ HUNTLY TO AWAROA, "There should be. a , railway between Huutly and Awaroa," said Mr. S. Pieken, to .;-.- a Hekald representative yesterday. Mr. Picker*'has-made a close study of the conditions existing in th© district Which would be benefitted; by such a railway." . v , air. Picked stated that 'the suggested railway would be -an arterial line of great importance.' 'The line at , present was authorised and under construction. for 74 miles into, one of' the greatest: coal/ fields in the NOrth Island; -If that railway were continued through the agricultural districts adjacent to.those fields,. in which all engineering : difficulties : would be at a / minimum, then by the help of. the coal; agricul-tui-al; produce, and the induced settlement, the lme would pay a fail' interest on the cost of its constructioii. . " All the: country /between, Kawhia and Waitera/' said ; Mr.- Picken; is" at present practically isuoecupied; /the-bulk of it being dairying country.; /, The cost: of roadmS> for dairying /purposes,'/^ would be' tremendous, v because, there^ would ;he / ; absolutely outlet. . But if -the railway > could be run; through and short roads connected with it, .the ultimate cost of /settle- ■ ment would probably' be less than roading the aißtnct, on accoiHit of there being no outlet. , The* railway could be built -iVithout. any borrowed ; money 'whatever • the ; land benefited ' would pay for itc '.'As a. rule you loa<l: the couritry-, .for roads ; it could: be goaded/ in the: saWway for fixe 1 railway. In . fact,, , the railway could /be the. .main arteriai,!■ road- It would 4 pass' within three miles -of. the Te Akin Block, and would pass through portions Tof the Mauranga,-; Block. This would materially assist towards making th«."Jijia a r -paiyihg proposition from/the-"start." - ' * /'The whole question was hot one -for the, exemse of parochial jealousies,^; coneluded tne/ speaker, '* but it was ' undoubtedly, a question of great national imi portanco,: and as such' it' inwild be; oily tor.;any ; particular district to oppose tfca project simply for, ::fcho sake of possiblv Ipbtaamnjß'a few local "adva'nftiges. V - " -*V,