RIVAL RAILWAY ROUTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15238, 27 February 1913, Page 8

RIVAL RAILWAY ROUTES.

KAWHIA TO MAIN TRUNK LINE.

SURVEY, PARTY INVESTIGATING.

[BY TELEGRATH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Kawhia, Wednesday. A party under Mr. L. B. Campbell, of the Public Works Deportment, arrived in Kawhia to-day, for tho object of making a reconnaisanco survey of the railway route from Kawhia Harbour to the Main Trunk line. Their mission is in fulfilment of a promise given last session by the Hon. W. Fraser (Minister for Public Works) to a deputation of Kawhia and King Country delegates that a flying survey of possible routes would be undertaken before Parliament meets again.

Recounaisance work will probably occupy the party for six weeks or more. !The first work will be the exploring of the much discussed Kawhia, to Te Awamutu, Kawa, or Otorohanga route, with special reference to its continuance to Puta-ruru. Such_a railway would bring the Waipa and upper Waikato Valleys, together with _ tho whole of the inland King Country, into direct communication with this port, the distance from Oparau to ' the Main Trunk railway being only 18 miles in an airline, and from Oparau to deep water berthage at Kawhia a further six. The other routes to be explored will bo one right through the JSEoerangi Block to Frank ton Junction, opening up a large area of country, and approaching near to tho head waters of Raglan and Aotea harbours. Yet another is from the direction of Waitomo.

The party is at present camped at Oparau, where the members will remain for some days, working east and west towards Kawhia and Te-rau-a-moa, subsequently crossing the Hauturu Range to the Waipa side.