HANGAROA-WHAREKOPAE PROPOSAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12410, 21 March 1911, Page 4

HANGAROA-WHAREKOPAE PROPOSAL.

The prospect of reducing the mileage of the East Coast Main Trunk line from Napier, to Auckland, by adopting the Hangaroa route and continuing northwasds to junction with the Gisborne Motu railway at Waikohu, appeared yesterday, as will be seen from our report of the deputation, to favorably impress the Hon. R. McKenzie, Minister : for Public Works. Mr A. C. Steele, of Tahora, who introduced the suggested route .to the notice of the Minister yesterday, subsequently explained fo a reporter that the line would follow the Hangaroa river and cross tjie watershed at the lowest point into the Wharekopae district, at the back of Mr John Murphy's Tangihanga station. From there it followed an open valley and flats into Waikoftth From the, watershed m question to W«J ; kohu is a distance of 7 from IS to 16 miles., A narrow ridge, easily tunnelled, formed the watershed..

Mr Steel© went on to ' explain that instead of taking the Waikura Valley and travelling through the Te Aroha station into Ngatapa, the other route advocated by the League, the line he proposed continued along the Hangaroa until it reached a saddle between the tributaries of the Wharekopae and that portion of the Hangaroa river. s The route jvas settled Almost .throughout, and after deviating from the Te Aroha. station, would pass through Trafford's, Baker's, and his own place (all Government leases), besides tapping all the settlers on the Upper Hangaroa. On reaching the Wharekopae Valley there were flats, nearly all the way to Waikohu. „ The route followed the Wharer kopae, which falls into the Waipaoa river close to the Waikohu raihvay station. Mr Bteele added thai he recognised the proposal would not be favorably entertained by the residents of Gisborne, who naturally wished; to have the terminus of the Napier-Gisborne section as near to the town as- possible. Still, he looked upon the project ■ from ti> national aspect. It was certainly the most direct route, and he was gratified to observe the favorable reception which it received from the Minister. , •