HAMILTON-RAGLAN RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18521, 4 October 1923, Page 5

HAMILTON-RAGLAN RAILWAY.

Sir,ln connection with the discussion concerning, .the : proposed, .light railway scheme, several references have been .made to the: Whatawhata Campbell :■- Coal Cons* pany's : mine and }. to the ' probable effect ;of the coal traffic on- the prospects >of .the scheme, and my directors; have instructed me to set-out the board's -views ion the matter. At this stagj) my board thinks it as, well to make public a few facts'in connection with -the company's : prospects. The company at the present time is boring its field; to ascertain \ the 'depth ■:. of the'coal deposits, and over the small portion already bored has ascertained that thero is enough coal in sight to give an J output of 100,000 tons for 20 years. ;As the boring progresses, this estimate will, of course, be increased. The coal is of. good quality and will command a 'ready sale,-and ,the opening up of euch a field will, naturally be -of great benefit 'to Hamilton and ; the surrounding, district. My company.; wants a railway ■ Connection :. from the 'mm*. In order that lithe Government rolling stock may be utilised, a: line of standard gauge would ; be necessary \ and a narrower gauge would be iof no use. <My board ,is ;of opinion. that the i; coal V freights ; to be*» de- ; . rived * would assure a permanent ; income to. the Railway'.''.Board; in the event of .the liheVbeihg constructed to Raglan via ; th«! mine, and; naturally ; the board is; anxious I to have the line constructed by : that route. We have had a trial survey made of the i route and find that there are .no difficulties! in the ! way out to the mine. ;_> Fur : : thermore, we are; advised that it will, be 1 no 'more expensive to continue line. by way of '~ a'V tunnel- through -, the ;.; hill to Raglan than.to adopt the roundabout route' 1 via Karamu } and the Waitetuna Valley.. As the area is now-constituted, the mine, and the Whatawhata district are outside the board's area,' and cannot bo included without the consent of the ratepayers. As mentioned above, my ■ company is ■ .very" I anxious l to get a line constructed ui carry I the coal; but the present project' to" conI struct a: light line on the Trih&araoiea,* '■ Karamu and Waitetuna route is of. no use. Summing up the position, the company wants a line where it will carry the co,V i, and give direct access to Raglan, and open up for the Waikato a. port which already is navigable'for.vessels drawing, 14ft., and ■ which is only 30, miles away pom HamilI ton, and finally the line must.be able to .carry tha Government voUing stock. '■■ ican'X tha i«iliDg atock, • ■•''.' ' ' Hi. ft &ANS«N[ t & ' ' ' <, '* ,: ■■-:'•'•.-:'..- .•■':. "'■.■'' "..>;;■-•'■';■•■' '.■■■ ■.('" ' *" ■■■• ' : '. ' '....■