TARANAKI AND THE MAIN TRUNK.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10488, 22 June 1910, Page 2

TARANAKI AND THE MAIN TRUNK.

(!*£« Press Association.)

New Plymouth. June 21. The opening of the Tewera section of the Stratiord-Ongarue railway line took place on Monday.' The Hon. T. Mackenzie officiated, and said the section of railway would ultimately join up the Taranaki railway system with the Main Trunk line. This section, commenced at Ruiroa stais 1-5 miles (>8 chains, and ended at i'owera, 22 miles 65 chains from Strnti'erd. The length of tiie section

was there lore just short of seven miles, ror tiie fiivt half of the distance there were no particular engineering difficulties, but from Kioro station onward tiie const ruction was hoavv. consisting ot lieav- cuttings, large hanks on somewhat waniny land, and a tunnel eleven chains Jong through the Mohr.knu Saddle. The country traversed bv the section had been settled for many years, but up to the present the means ot access and outlet for produce, especially in the winter, had been a drawback to the prosperity of the settlers beyond the terminus of the section, the opening of which they were celebrating. The construction work was in progress over a distance of about 12 miles. Tiie work included a tunnel through the Pohukura range, about 13 chains in length. The country ahead was exceptionally fertile, and the coming of the railway, said Mr Mackenzie, would doubtless give a stimulus to the efforts of the settlers, who had persevered in the face of difficulties for many years. The section now opened had cost for construction, buildings and 'permanent way in round figures £90,000 for the seven miles. The "total cost of the line to date was £285,000. At present the number of men employed on the line was 482. In the evening Mr Mackenzie was banqueted by the settlers.

The Minister spoke for two hours, and with such effect that his auditors, judging by their manifestations of appreciation and enthusiasm, would gladly have listened to him for a further two hours. It was generally accounted the best political speech' that had been heard in recent years hi Taranaki, and created a deep and favorable impression.