OPOTIKI-TANEATUA LINE

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 69, 12 August 1938, Page 3

OPOTIKI-TANEATUA LINE

ROUTE DECIDED ON VIA WAIMANA GORGE ./ AN IMMEDIATE START SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES ' VOTE Mr A. G. I-lultquist, in a letter to the Opotiki News states: — In forwarding you the attached copy of letter from the Minister of Public Works I do so with a great deal of pleasure. The letter should dispel altogether any fears which those interested may have had as to whether the railway from Taneatua to Opotiki was really going to be constructed. According to the AJinister’s letter it can be taken for granted that, with the pegging of the line, work has actually commenced. This information should be most gratifying to the people of Opotiki and surrounding districts particularly. I am now looking forward to the establishment of a camp as the Minister says ‘in the not far distant future,’ and later to the completion of the line, and the inevitable progress of the districts it.will serve.

The ultimate success of the representations made by those who have advocated the extension of the present line has been assured, and their efforts rewarded fully by the information ill the attached communication. The Minister’s Letter.

The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. It. Semple, writes to Air Hultquist as follows: —

“1 am pleased to/make the following important statement to you in regard to the above matter, one to which you have given so much of your time and attention since you have represented the Bay of Plenty. More recently you have made repeated representations to the Prime Alinister, myself, and to the House, in regard to the foute the railway would take, and the following information will he interesting to you.

“I am now able to advise you definitely that the original route through the Waitnana Gorge is to he adhered to, the preliminary work of surveying having already been At the same time, some investigation has been made of possible alternative routes, including one along the Coast, but owing to the heavy expense that would he involved in the construction of a tunnel 1A miles in length, and a very long railway bridge, it became apparent to my Department that the most economical proposal, would be to take the line inland, and although the distance will be greater than the Coast route, the line will serve a great deal of good country.

/“The men who wore employed on the survey of the coastal route have now been taken off, and put on pegging the permanent line for the railway from Taneatua through the AYainiana Gorge, j Unfortunately, there is going to be seme difficulty in locating both the railway and road through the Gorge, and a fair amount of survey work for that purpose will have to he made. The ultimate abandonment of the present road may have to be agreed to, and an alternative road to Opotiki , built. Every effort will be made, however, to retain suitable road access through the Gorge, even to the extent of building one on the opposite side el the river, it that is found to ho possible, but coincidentally with the investigations m this connection, the survey of a proposed road along the Coast is being speeded up, and other alternative routes explored as well. “I am arranging for the pegging of the permanent railway line to commence at Taneatua, and for the actual forming of the line and work associated therewith to commence as soon as a mile or so of pegging has been completed. AVhile work, is proceeding 1 on one portion of the line it is planned to finalise the survey? work in the Gorge, and loading arrangements coincidental with that happening. “1 am therefore able to assure you that a number of men will be engaged on the actual construction of the inline in the not so far distant future, jjhit to all intents and purposes the HW&rk has actually commenced with of the route. j||||ra|ilntcnd to have a vote for the of the railway placed on Estimates, so> that can commence when are passed by Parlia-