THE GISBORNE-KARAKA RAILWAY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9662, 3 November 1899, Page 3

THE GISBORNE-KARAKA RAILWAY.

DISCUSSION BY THE HARBOR BOARD. WHERE SHALL THE TERMINUS BE ? At the meeting of the Harbor Board last evening Captain Tucker introduced tho question of the proposed Gisborne-Karaka railway, and suggested that the Harbor Board should move in the matter of fixing the terminus of the line. He said that everyone knew that a line of railway had been authorised to the Karaka, und it seemed to him advisable that they should, if possible, endeavor to work in any scheme of harbor improvements with the construction of tho railway. The terminus of the railway should, he thought, dovetail with any scheme of harbor improvements which they might have in hand. It was apparent to all that the wharf accommodation was at the present time inadequate, and therefore it was a matter for consideration whether all freight and produce brout'ht down by railway should pass over the wharf, He "did not think it wise that traffic at the wharf should be further congested by passing all freights brought by rail over it. Mr Napier Bell in his report had suggested that shipments of wool might be accomplished from the point of the Waikanae. It was suggested by him that they should have such accommodation that in the near future wool vessels might be berthed at the Waikanae. That being so, it was perhaps prudent for the Board, knowing what was occurring in regard to the railway terminus, to see if the two things could not be worked compatibly together. ■The Chairman said that he understood Mr Stewart had started hia survey from somewhere near the flagstaff. He believed that the terminus was to be in that locality, but he did not know the exact spot. The Secretary : He was to come here and see what property we had. The Chairman : I saw Mr Stewart, and he proposed to take the line up this Bide of the Waikanae for some distance, crossing the stream at Peel street. The principal station was to be near the flagstaff, somewhere behind the Bay View boaiding house. He was also to take a line down the other side of tho groyne. Of course it will be a considerable time before you have shipping accommodation at tho Waikanao such as Captain Tucker refers to v As far as I know at present the terminus ia to be at the flagstaff. Mr Sievwright : That means that he would have to acquire property aa he went along. It just occurs to me that Whataupoko would be the most suitablo place for a terminus. There is a line laid down there for over one and a half miles, and we would not have to pay a penny for it. Mr Chrisp : What Captain Tucker is driving at is this. He would rather ccc the terminus on the eastward side of the Waikanae He thinks it would be much better, and so do I. There is the question of the cost of the land to Btart with. The railway station might as well bo at the river as al the flagstaff. It is most important, as Captain Tucker points out, that all freights coming from the country by rail should bo kept clear of tho wharf, where the tialfio already is considerable. I may Bay I am surprised to hear that the railway station is to be at the flagstaff, seeing that there is so much private laud to acquire. It does seem a pity that we should not have it on the other side. • The Chairman : You will have no chipping facilities on that side for years. Mr Hepburn : I am fully convinced that the flagstaff is by far a more convenient place for the terminus than the Waikanae would be. It is the most central part of the town, and that is what is required. As regards the freights from the country, why should you have to cart them through the town. Captain Tucker : My main objection to the terminus being at the flagstaff is that it means the congesting of the traffic at this little wharf. This is a matter of the greatest moment for us. The little bit of a wharf we have is not even 6uiriciont for the lighters, and how can it. be made sufficient for the greater traffic which the railway will give us ? The large quantities of timber which the railway will bring would also be crowded on the wharf, which is not sufficient for present requirements. Therefore it would be wise to separata the two things. Mr Sievwright : I understand that it is Mr Stewart's intention to have two lines. Mr Matthewson : The line should be kept on the other side of the Waikanae, and should not be brought on this side. It would save considerable labor in tho handling of freights. The Chairman : The wool is not dumped at the sUlion. It has to be brought to the stores, and the nearer the station the better. The first idea Mr Stewart had was to put it on the other side, and I cannot tell why he should have changed it. Mr Hepburn spoke strongly in favor of the station being kept on this side of tho Waikunae, as near the business portion of tho town aa possible). It was, in his opinion, most convenient for tho public and the wharves!. Mr Cooper was of the sanio opinion as Mr Sievwright. He believed Hie Whataupoko was the right spot for the railway terminus. Cape. Tucker ; No ; the nearer the sea the better. Mr Cooper : Let us have it at Whataupoko, whore thcru is a railway reserve. The cost of the. land ia saved. Mr Hepburn : The more money spent in the place t lie better. Ido not mind how much they have to pay for land so long ns the district has the benefit of il. We have not to consider that part of the business. We want the railway station in the most suitablo and convenient place. I shall not cry to sec them spending money. The more money they spend the better 1 shall like it. Capt. Tucker : If the work is going to be of .in expensive natuie, you will have "I difficulty in getting it undertaken. If i worked economically, there is every pros- | pect of the thing being taken up by Eug--1 lish capitalists. 1 Mr Sievwright: lam anxious we should :> "ive the Government all the wisdom we L> cm to help them to arrive at a proper v terminus. ". Mr Cooper : 1 hope by the next meeting r that we shall lie able to advice some friends i, to yet tuitsiile capital lo do tho work. As •j f,u us I can sue, if ue luul to depend on o this Government to o.ury out this line it ■_. will lake over '2(J ye.us to i;ct as far as tho ; Kaiaka. v Mr Sievwright : They will havo to carry li it out.

Mr Cooper : Yes ; but I want to know how long it will lake them to get to tin Karaka. After further discussion of a desultory nature, the mail or was allowed to stand over for a month, it being understood that the Board's engineer, Mr King, should see Mr Stewart and aacertuin from him what his proposals wore with regard to the terminus for the lino.