Opunake Railway.

Opunake Times, Volume XXII, Issue 771, 8 September 1905, Page 2

Opunake Railway.

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER. Wellington, September 6. Mr Dudley (Chairman of the Opunake Town Board), Mr Fleming (Chairman of the Egmont County Council), and Mr Tayler (Mavor of Eltham), introduced by Mr Major, M.H.R., and acoompanied by Mr E. M. Smith,'M.H.R., and Hon. Mr Carnoross, M.L.C., waited upon the Minister for Publio Works this afternoon to urge the construction of the railway between Opunake and Eltham. Mr Tayler dilated upon the vast importance of establishing the railway, and was sure the deputation would present such 1 a case as to warrant an immediate vote for the work. If a better route w ■ thought possible that could be discussed afterwards, but the present idea Was to get a line , from Opunake to Eltham. The people of that district had a just claim to this seeing that it was 30 years since it was promised, and the fact that the traffic upon the main road was so great that the local body could not find sufficient money to keep the road in order. No road in the oolony was so greatly used and the railway would be a paying concern from the outset. Mr Tayler said the Minister, when driven through the country nine years ago, found it thickly populated and since then population had greatly increased. The country would, however, oarry three times the present population, but unfortunately roads were fast wearing out, and it was going to be a difficult matter in future to keep them in repair. The line would pay handsomely as a big country leading to the main railway system would be served by it, and there was a large amount of stone which could be tapped and whioh was required throughout the district. The total cost would be about £120,000. The railway was author-. ised as far baok as 1878, the money was set apart for it and there might be a large proportion of that money available for the work. Something ought to be done during this session if possible, He was voicing the desires of settlers in this matter. He pointed out that there was no district which produoed so much dairy produce and the success of the townspeople depended upon the success of the settlers. Hon. Mr Carnoross said the Minister was as well versed in the details of the position as the deputation and he felt sure the Minister was in sympathy with the request of the deputation and would give it favorable consideration. He did not think any small line in the colony would prove more remunerative than the proposed railway. Mr Fleming hoped the Minister would give them the railway. The position was becoming intensified every year by the impossibility of keeping the road open. During the past three years the oounty has expended £750 on the Eltham Road more than the rates accruing, and this could not go on for all time. And still the road was going to the bad, and it would be impossible to keep it open for traffic. Many of the settlers paid a high price for their land in the belief that the railway would be constructed in a short time. It coßt 30s per ton cartage of produce to New Plymouth. They had borrowed about £27,000 for roads, which had been made feeders for the railway, Almost all the settlers were prepared to grow stuff if there was a railway to carry the produce. Mr Dudley said the Minister didn't require to do more than put the money on the Estimates. In 1878, under some land scheme, the money was to be set aside for railways, and this line was authorised. He looked for a favorable reply from the Minister. It might be urged that the surveys were not complete, but if they waited till then they would get nothing done this session. It was quite up to the government to give them this line. He quoted statistics to show the thick population of the district, and said the port of Opunake would eventually be a large feeder to the line. Mr smith also strongly urged the necessity for making the line, and said if the money was not available it should be borrowed. Hon. Hall-Jones said he felt greatly interested iu the district, and he considered the Opunake line had as strong, if not a stronger claim than any other district, but the difficulty with him was that all the information was not yet available, and the House would demand that when the proposal was nut before it. Before the Supplementary Estimates were brought down he would place the position before Cabinet. The final route should, however, be adopted before the matter was brought before the House. His sympathy was with the deputation. With regard to the statement that there should be a sum of money available, he would look into the matter. Mr Dudley said if there was any doubt abcut the line paying settlers would be prepared to have their property rated to make up the interest. The Hon. Hall-Jones said in conclusion that he would not like it to go forth that there was a promise of any provision being made this session.—Havvera Star Special.