A NEW RAILWAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4313, 23 March 1901, Page 6

A NEW RAILWAY

THE STRATFORD-WHANG A MOMONA LINE. . TURNING THE FIRST SOD. Arrangements have been made for the turning of the first sod of the Stratford. Whnngamomona railway by the Minister for Public Works 911 Thursday nest. For t he'first «i* miles tho line will pass through nearly flat land, the tiiih end of a slope from Mount mxnmt, Tim sol) is excftllent, with ft fine, free growth of grass. The line enters «t about the sixth mile upon a rich papa rock for. mutton, Here also the soup*good, with the grass growing well. Nearly tbfi whole of this country has been out up into small sections, and many small holdings have been, established there. Some years ago the whole of the country was covered with forest, and although considerable inroads have been made Into the timber by settlers who have cleared for cultivation, there are still extensive areas left which will yield a large railway traffic for many years to come. The settlors have gone in ex--1 tensively for dairying, and butter is one of the principal products of the district. Wool, sheep, o.l ltie and timber are also staple _ articles of production. Great hardship is experienced on. account of bad roads. Metal is difficult to obtain, and in winter the roads become impassable. Therefore, in order that the settlers may be assisted in getting their produce to market, and for the purpose of relieving the roads from.the heavy traffic, the line of railway has become a necessity. The settlors are doing well, and as is natural where the soil is rich, the agricultural operations of the district arc attaining large proportions. The engineer has made careful inquiry as to the class of line most suitable for the country, and whilst there was a great inducement to lessen the cost of construction by reducing the gauge below the present standard, it was con. sidered that, in view of the large traffic likely to result as seen as a portion of the lino is completed, and in view of the fact that eventually the line would form the continuation with the main trunk line at Kawakawa, thus forming the connecting link between two standard gauge lines—namely, at Kawakawa. in the nerth andiStratford in the south—any alteration in the gauge would.be undesirable. It is, therefore, proposed to make the line as at first intended—a light railway, in which the standard gauge would be preserved. This will allow rolling stock to be used on i.his branch which is not now so serviceable for the main lines, and will not involve the importation or manufacture of any special stock for this section. On the main lines heavier engines are being adopted,, and there are light engines and light trucks which-will. suit, ’this . line., admirably. The cost of the light railway with the standard gauge will, there, fore, not be much in excess of the narrow gauge system.