AUCKLAND TO TANEATUA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19838, 7 January 1928, Page 10

AUCKLAND TO TANEATUA

LAST LINK OF RAILWAY.

EARLY COMPLETION IN VIEW. STIMULUS TO STOCK-RAISING. A powerful stimulus to the fat lamb trade and froxen meat enterprise generally in the Bay of Plenty will result from tho early completion of the last link in the railway from Auckland to Taneatua. Sir.W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth and Co., Ltd., contractors for the sections linking the line, are now about ready to hand over to the Publio Works Department the last length of 16 miles from Tahawai to Te Puna. A Government inspection of the work has been asked for by the contractors, and it is probable that within a few weeks uninterrupted railway communication between Auckland and Taneatua, near Opotiki, will be established. Subsequently the whole length will come under the control of the Railway Department. Until a shorter route to Auckland is provided, the line from the Bay of Plenty will junction with existing services at Waihi, but it is proposed to shorten the distance to Auckland by approximately 50 miles by means of a link from Paeroa to Pokeno.

Those competent to judge, predict an immense development in the fat lamb trade of the Bay of Plenty when direct 'rail communication with Auckland freezing works and stores is provided. In the past owners of fat sheep and lambs have been obliged to have their stock driven long distances to the nearest railheads to Rotorua or Waihi, for instance. Apart from the expense involved, the loss of condition on long droves has depreciated considerably from the net return upon killing. For the past few seasons the position has been accentuated by the closing of the works at Whakatane. One other beneficial aspect of the fastapproaching completion of the line will be the availability to farmers, for topdressing purposes, of manures at a much cheaper rate than hitherto. In itself, this is important, but in its bearing on the raising of fat stocky makes a dual factor of potent significance.