MAIN NORTH RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17151, 3 May 1919, Page 8

MAIN NORTH RAILWAY.

EARLY COMPLETION URGED.

LINKING UP THE GAPS. >, STATEMENT BY MINISTER. [by telegraph.—special reporter.] WHANGAREI, Friday. The necessity for the early completion of the Main North Auckland railway was strongly urged by Mr. Vernon Reed, M.P., last night, when the Minister for Public. Works, Sir William Fraser, was receiving a number of deputations. Mr. Reed asked that work on the Huarau and Golden Stairs tunnels should be expedited to tiniiili simultaneously with a thirteen miles stret-ch from Waiotira to Paparoa. Sir William Fraser pointed out that there were more men working on the North Auckland Main Trunk than on any other line, but he doubted whether the work could be finished simultaneously. Huarau tunnel was progressing favourab y, but there was a difficult length between that and Golden Stairs tunnel, which might delay operations. He was pleased to announce \hat a scheme had been drafted for a temporary line, with a grade of 1 in 33, to bridge the gap while the Golden Stairs tunnel was being completed. This would not take full traffic, out if the scheme proved at all possible, he would give it sympathetic consideration, even if it involved extra expenditure. This would be a means of connecting Auckland with Ka : kohe.

The Minister added that every endeavour ■would be made to finish the thirteen-mile length simultaneously with the work of temporarily linking up numerous other lines.