NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2923, 23 March 1910, Page 15

NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

MINISTER'S POSITION ASSAILED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, March 14. In connection with the Hon. R. M'Kenzie's statement regarding the North Auckland "railway, Mr F. Mander, M.P. for Marsden, who is a strong advocate of the eastern route, had something to say to a Star reporter. "The Minister of Public Works has endeavoured to show that the railway will be more beneficial if taken to the westward," said Mr Mander. " This contention is ' absolutely wrong. If the line went via Pukekaroro to Maungaturoto, as laid out by the engineers, and thence from Rogers (at Wairiri) on to M'Carro.H's, it would not only meet the requirement's of the settlers of the eastern side, but also satisfy the requirements of the western side equally well. The Hon. Mr M'Kenzie has said a lot about the desirability of running the line westward to the Bickerstaffe Estate, but only 50 settlers, would derive any actual benefit at the point. Likewise the extension eastward over the original route advocated by the Government engineers will save the cost of a most expensive bridge over the Otamatea River, and will enable the Government to avoid some of the worst possible country for railway construction purposes: Taken to the east, the route will be easy of access, much more economical, and. will tap one of the finest ballast pits in the north, which, besides being useful for ballast purposes, will also provide settlers with muchneeded road metal. The Minister of Public Works a&serts that the eastern route runs over precipitous country, and would serve but few people. Admittedly for about two miles north of Pukekaroro there is a short stretch of rough country, but from an engineering point of view it is not at all formidable compared with some of the propositions the engineers were called upon to face in constructing the Main Trunk line between Wellington and Auckland. The engineers certainiy prefer the eastern side, and consider there is nothing so difficult to negotiate on the eastern route as the country near Bickerstaffe on the west. Mr Stewart stated before the Petitions Committee in Wellington last sessfon that it would be impossible to accurately estimate the cost of railing the Bickerstaffe section, and that statement was supported by Mr Holmes. As to the question of which route will serve the greater number of people, there are quite 1800 who have settled on the eastern side, expecting that the railway would go via Mungawaj, Harkaru, Kaiwaka, Brinderwyn, Maungaturoto, and Wadpu. The latter place, alone has a population of about 900, and will be practically cut off from all communication if the railway does not go that way, seeing that it has a bar harbour that is unworkable.