LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6994, 7 December 1909, Page 3

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

DUPMOATION OF THE MANAWATU RAILWAY. A EOUTB SUGGESTED. With an eye to that time in the future when the traffic passing over the Manawatu lino will bo so great as to necessitate duplication of the track, a deputation waited upon tho Hon. R. Mclvenzio, Minister of Public Works, yesterday afternoon and urged him to have a survey made of a routo which they held- would be found eminently suitable for the purpose and very easy to work. Tho deputation consisted of live Pahautanui residents and was introduced by Mr W. H. Field, M.P. The Minister was informed by Mt Field, and other speakers, that the Pahautanui people were very much interested in this question, though they did not look upon it as a local one at all. The duplication of the Manawatu Ene, at least that section between Paekakariki and Wellington, would shortly be an absolute necessity. It had been suggested that this might bo accomplished by a deviation from Waikanae to Upper Hutt by way of the Akatarawa Valley, but they were of opinion that a much better and cheaper route could bo secured _by leaving the Manawatu line at Wainui (two miles north, of Paekakariki), taking a course through Pahautanui and joining the Hutt line at Belmont. From Paekakariki to Belmont was only about fourteen miles, and an almost direct routo between them could be secured by going over a low hollow in the .hills. By following it, tho Paekakariki Mil and tho numerous bad curves between it and Wellington would be avoided. Of course, they did not expect the line to be built next year or the year sifter, but they did tMnk the claims of the route they had. suggested should not be overlooked. The line could be taken through, with only a single tunnel and in addition would pass through country that had not yet been touched by either road or railway. The Minister said that he would have no objection to sending a man out to make a flying survey of the route if he found -that such had not already been done- Ho would get a reiport made upon the look of the country, but could not see his wayclear to spending money on a trial survey of a. line which was not at all likely to be mado for many years. As a matter of fact, tho Manawatu liiio was quite capable of coping with two or three times the present traffic, an'd by using the best facilities could bo made to carry, pofhaps, ten or fifteen times as much. He did not expect to see tho new lino mado in his time, but that was no reason why ho should not have information upon it if only to put before deputations which, came about it. When he' had. an officer available for this purpose ho would send him out to look over the country, take levels, etc. But there could be" nothing in tho way of a promieo as to construction of the. line. There were a few thousand miles of railway to bo made elsewhere first. Tho Manawri/fcu lino, worked to its fullest capacity, could take a train every quarter of an hour. Mr Field mentioned that directors of the old Manawatu Railway Company had told him that if tho. line had not been taken oyer ,by the Government they would have considered the duplication of tho truck between Paekakariki and Wellington almost at once. "Yes," said tho Minister, "but its different when you have 2ot to pay for it."