EAST COAST RAILWAY ROUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7392, 21 March 1911, Page 1

EAST COAST RAILWAY ROUTE

DEPUTATION TO. THE MINISTER FOB WOBKS.

PRESS ASSOCIATION. ' GISBORNE, March 20. The HonC’E, McKenzie, Minister for Public Works, was interviewed to-day by a deputation representing the East Coast Inland League regarding the rente of the Gisborne railway Mae southwards. The deputation strongly urged the advantages of the route to Napier, via Hangaroa, in preference to that via Mangapoike. The Mayor, in introducing the deputation, said the members had come forty to fifty miles to see the Minister.

Mr Morice said -they desired to have all routes investigated before a decision was made. The route they advocated was along the Hangaroa river, end up the Alpha stream across a low saddle aad through Ngatapa. tie said that route would serve 100,000 to 300,000 acres, while the Mangapuike route would only tan about 80,000 acres.

The Minister said the league’s information as to what tho engineers tad reported was erroneous, lie produced a report of the qugiiiear-in-rhief, si awrr.g that the Hangaroa line was rine nnles longer, and would cost .£3OOO cr *! 0,000 a mile.

The deputation contended that the engineer had not seen the sa idle «n tV Aroha .section of their suggested route. As an alternative the -oputatirn suggested a junction out of the GisborneMotu line at Waihokou, this saving ten miles on the Gisborne-Auckland Une.

The Minister said if the ilcpnlatron could show him such a caving lie was prepared to consider it. The Mir.'ster complained that some of the information circulated was erroneous. After discussion it was arranged that the deputation should meet Hie Minuter again on Wednesday. 'le rntinrafed lis willingness to at cnee send the eiigiiieer-in-chief to inspect anv of Ike routes. The deputation asked that ihe resident engineer should first moke a flying survey of the routes iu preference to a casual inspection. The Minister has craw gone to Teioxaatu Bay.