EAST COAST MAIN TRUNK.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16348, 4 February 1924, Page 3

EAST COAST MAIN TRUNK.

POSITION UNSATISFACTORY. * Discussing t|ie East Coast Main Trunk line in his report to the annual meeting of the Auckland Railway League, Mr. P. E. Cheat, the chairman, stated : i "From Waihi to Tauranga,, 41 miles, it is estimated will he completed in three years, tenders being invited for the'construction of the 48 miles to Tauranga-to connect that district by railway, and from Tauranga to Taneatua, 63 mi)es, giving a direct access to Auckland of an \inbroken line of 245 miles, .which could be shortened to 200 miles by the construction of 40 miles of railway from Pokeno to Paeron, the cheapest constructed line iu the Dominion. The Pokeno-Paeroa connection should be strongly pressed on the consideration oi I the Government. Not only is it a shorter line and less expensive than the. present lint* round by Frahkton Junction and Te Aroha, but it should he the tourist lino between Auckland and Rotorua.. The distance round by the proposed route to llotorua will only be two miles longer to Morrinsville via Pneroa, 105 miles against 103 via Frankton Junction, which cnn/iot be estipmicrt against the saving of congestion or traffic ; in 45 miles from Mercer to Frankton. | "The Napier-Gisborne-Auckland seci tion is not in such a .satisfactory position as the West Coasl-Stratford-Okahukura section. This is partly owing to the apathy of the East Coast population who wish to be connected up with N.ioier rather than Auckland, and to Welling- , ton via the East Coast, a distance) Of AQ6 miles agairist some 260 miles between Auckland and Gisborne. Recent incidents seem to pbint to an attempt to go from Napier to Kaingoroa and via Whakatanc or Rangitaiki Valleys to connect up with the East Coast Main Trunk. Stratford to Okahukura is on a much more .satisfactory footing. It is 1 satisfactory to have the assurance of the I .Minister of Public Works that three years will see the works from both ends. of the West Coast Main Trunk'lino completed to the heavy section. Presumably the Tangarakaui Gorge section is ivjeanf. It is satisfactory to know that the Minister lias determined to carry on the railway work to tap flokianga, Kailaia, Houhora, Mangonri, and , Wtiangaroa." I urn; ■ii»iii»ywMwgCTQjßMw—«»