ROAD, RAIL, AND PORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18566, 26 November 1923, Page 14

ROAD, RAIL, AND PORT.

WIDENING COMMUNICATIONS.

AGENTS IN DEVELOPMENT.

EXPLOITING RICH TERRITORY.

The chief contributors to Whangarei's progress arc the means of communication that converge upon it. Paradoxical as it may sound, Whangarei is an inland seaport. It is 22 miles from the seacoast, connection being given by a ™gn,ficent waterway. Roads run into the centre from north, south, west, and even from the eastern coast. Railways from north and south join hands at Whangarei These communications by land and wate have been greatly improved m recent vears, although the final system is stdl some distance from completion. They are the prime factors in the development of a splendid pastoral hinterland as well as its , pivot at Whangarei. -. ,5 • - | The Whangarei County, Council has recently embarked on a large programme of roading works. Recognising that the problem of access to a territory comprising 11000 square miles of splendid country could not be solved out of rate moneys alone, it has adopted a borrowing policy for permanent works. Its present loan indebtedness is, however, only. £70,000 against an unimproved valuation of £2.094,000 or capital value of £4,713,000. Its'ratepayers number 3186 and the total county population is 10,037. To-day there are 168 miles of metalled roads, 750 miles unmetalled, and 90 miles of bridle truck* * * » ■ The season's programme, of works involves the expenditure of £22,000 in loan money: £15,000,. Government grants; and £15,800, riding revenue. One of the most important works in hand is the completion of the metalling on the Wheks Valley Road; The job will be finished next year, thus. connecting east and west, Whangarei and Dargaville, by a metalled highway of 36 miles and giving- a route shorter bv 10 ; miles than that at present offered by the < Houto, Road. Another artery for settlers running west is the Mahgakahia Road which has been metalled for 36 miles, to within two miles of the county boundary. Beyond this point the Public Works Department are bridging the Man'gakahia and Awarua streams | bo that a through route will thus be given from Whangarei. to Kaikohe. i* ' ■'■■'._ : ' Feeder to , the Railway. .■. ';".■■,

BAnother important work is the Kirikopuni Road to Parakao which is being constructed by the department to act as; a main feeder to railway extension north (of Waiotira. The road 'will ultimately connect with Kaikohe. A sum of £10,000 is on the Estimates this year for the prosecution of the work.

In tbe Otohga ridin£>, east of WhangareiOpuai railway, a road-metalling scheme is •in progress" involving an expenditure of fi22.C0Q,,0f which £12.250 is loan money. Metalled roads" are being constructed between Puhipuhi and Whakapara, Helena Bay and Whakapara, and Whananaki and Otonga" on the railway. A" sum of £8000, with a subsidy of £8000, is available for ■giving a : continuous metalled road from Whangarei to Onerahi and on for 12 mile& toward .the heads. On the southern side of the county, a metalled road from Waikiekie through Oakley to Whangarei should., be finished. this season by the department, which is metalling some five miles rof the" road. Waipu will be given connection with Whangarei by a bitumen road to Oakleigh, with a sea outlet by another road \ from Ruakaka to One Tree Point. , %.. ..■;•-;?-. ■-: ;■-.: ;,:„■.,

• The railway .system which these roads 1 feed 'us' now becoming an effective , agent in transportation. Already there is a continuous track from Auckland to Okaihau, a distance of over 200 miles, and the' handing over of the Huarau-Portland section early next summer, and the revision of timetables and services that will follow, will prove a great stimulus to overland transport. * "

||" \ Continuation, of Main Trunk. -The continuationoosf s - the Main Trunk railway north of Waiotira is being prosecuted vigorously, and, by the end of the present summer, the Public Works Department may be able to offer settlers as far north as the Wairoa at Kirikopuni the beginnings' of railway transport. Little * imagination is required to # realise what these railway feeders have in store for Whangarei. It will be a terminal?as well as a centre for through traffic and a large new station and yards will be ready to meet the increasing demands early next summer. ;. ; _ : ';.;';-;" , ■*'" f':' The system of communications is completed at the Port of Whangarei. I Here outlet is given, for the produce of the district and imports for town and country needs are received. Deep water wharves ,are provided at Onerahi, where also pas'sengers disembark to take the railway to Whangarei. Smaller cargo steamers and other vessels are berthed at the modern concrete wharf, ] with shed accommodation, in the centre of the town. Port facilities have been and are being greatly extended and improved, dredging operations providing spoil for very extensive j reclamations which should grow into a real asset as industrial .sites. The provision of deep-water berthage at Kioreroa, about 1£ miles from the town, with rail I connection, cool stores and cargo-handling I plant, will make i Whangarei a modern terminal» worthy of the ■ potentialities of Northland,, which it is 'destined increasingly to serve as commercial capital and ; chief port. . . . .■■ " : .-; ■■."']■ ',■■■.; ■.'■■■'-