RAILWAY DEPUTATION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11369, 31 August 1908, Page 6

RAILWAY DEPUTATION.

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. In the course of the interview of the Auckland railway deputation Avith the Minister for Public Works,. Mr B*dl (Auckland) suggested that the Government should borrow a million pounds and especially earmark it for the East Coaßt railway, expending £350,000 a year for three years, and vigorously pushing on tlie line. The Minister: That "would not complete the line. Mr Bell replied that it would be found t ensy to raise a further million. Mr Hall Jones : You should be Minister for Works. Tlie Hon. Captain Tucker said the Gisborne-Rotorua line had received considerable attention from the Government recently, in compliance with the promise of the Premier. Every line had its paying point. Tlie Minister : Sometimes the vanishing point. Captain Tucker : That is not so in our case. Every succeeding month the earning power is greater than in the preceding one. He thought the paying point of tlie Gisborne-Rotorua line would bereached ten miles beyond the present terminus. In regard to the route, which would ultimately reach Auckland, thai was a matter properly left to the Government's discretion. It was most desirable that it should be so. Gisborne's objective was Auckland, via Rotorua, by either route. It had been suggested that his League desired connection with Rotorua because of tho great tourist traffic. Mr Joseph Carroll, speaking on behalf of Opotiki and Wlmkatane, said they desired that the present -work, be pushed on, leaviifg the route to be settled by the Government. He asked, however, that ••» section from Opotiki to Ohiwn be undertaken. Mr Newton* Mayor of Waihi, pointed to the importance of the development of timber on the East Coast line by means of Waihi. Mr Foster, representing Waihi and Katikati, said his peonle objected to the East Const line being designated Gis-borne-Rotcrna. The latter town had already had railway communication. Tourist traffic should be second to settlement jnul maintenance of the country. Mr Hogcr (Tauranga) advocated * the Wuihi-Katikati -Tauranga - Opottki - Gisborn? line, which would develop rt I'jreit timber industry. There were 76.CG0 acres of th** best timber area- in the Freirera, also 400,000 acres on the other side. Mr Hall Jones, jn the course of his reply, said the north of Auckland line on completion of the Main Trunk line would be nnuied "North of Auckland Main Trunk." WJien he looked at the •■~ir> rf Anrklnnc! province he agreed there Ava* plenty of work lo be done.

There was a large area stretching from Auckland to Hawke's Bay which required attention. The deputation had been pleased to urge the construction of mx separate lines, and they would realise the difficulties of finance. He regarded the north of Auckland line as of first importance, and wasi determined more should be done thaai in the past to remove the disabilities that existed on the East Coast. He had had a, trial line surveyed, extending from Waihi to Katikati, and a survey was now in hand south of Tauranga, also- from Mamaku to Tepuke. He considered almost a direct* line towards Gisborne would be obtained, proceeding via Pokeno and Paeioa. at the northern end. He pointed out the necessity of haying a most exhaustive, survey, and said that the heavy Rimutaka incline could have been avoided and a line of easy grade, saving six and. a half miles, obtained. A great deal of information had yet to be obtained re the East Coast line. Surveying was tedious work ; they could not push it, and whilst he could not promise a great deal, the surveys would be pushed on. Forty miles of survey was practically completed, ending at Katikati, and that , from Gisborne to Opotiki was being proceeded with. There w!as, however, some difficulty In^ the country traversed. A trial survey had been .carried almost to Motu, but getting to Motu required careful examination!- Whilst the difficulties from Motu to Opotiki at one time were believed, to be almost unsuperable, they now found a - fairly , good route, but it would b© expensive. He would be glad to t.ee the East Oust line undertaken at the northern end. But was not in a position this year to say where it was most advisable to start. At the Gisboine end a cionsideitible number of men were employed, _and he was prepared to increase the number. He hoped to have a large vote for the Gisborne line this year. There was a sufficient length of line surveyed to enable an increased number of men to be employed. Tho suggested undertaking of a section of the line at Ohiwa was not wise. Th?re were already eleven detached sections in the Dominion being worked at increased cost. He realised the importance of the lines . advocated, and Avhen the money was provided they would be pushed on as speedily as possible.