GISBORNE-WAIROA RAILWAY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16619, 24 December 1924, Page 8

GISBORNE-WAIROA RAILWAY.

AI.TKKATION O’F IiOCTK

Mr. If. llill, of Napier, writes to the Hawke’s Bay Herald-:

.1 am surprised that such small attention lia.s been given to this proposed alteration of route in the Napier-Gis-born-e railway line now in course-- of formation. The route originally selectedarid formed for some thirteen or more miles on the Gisborne- side was to proceed from Wairoa and Frasertown up the Uaugaroa Valley, llicnc-e to To Reinga and on to Tiniroto and Hangaroa, and then turning to Ngatapa, and so down the valley to l’ntutahi. The route lately selected, and us explained awa-y by your inspired account ottering the department's reasons for the change is this : To continue the present railway from Wairoa to Waikokopu, thence on to Gisborne by way of Wharerafa. and so down into the narrow strip of country running out at Young Nick's .Head.

Both routes are intimately known to me, as I traversed them for thirty-five years, and know something of the- quality of the land and the extent- of country that would become available for .settlement.

My surprise is bow anyone acquainted with Die building up of a. true railway system of communication for Hie North Island, and at the- same time bringing vast areas of land into useful occupation, could report- in favor of (lie coast line ns against (be TinireluHangamt one. The Jailer line from Frasertown up the Jlangafoa Valley right away to Te Reinga, runs through some, of the richest valley country .1 know—country that is fat to richness and in touch with other country, such as the Buakituri, which, too, will supply its own evidence of fatness without remark from me. Then the upper Hangaroa is the centre of the area leading into Rua’s country, which awaits development, and will carry a large number of settlers. Now this line could easily be linked up with the Gisborne-.Motu iine, and t.liu.s the middle of the island could be brought into touch with Wairoa, Napier and Wellington to the south, with Gisborne to the east, and Auckland to til© northwest. Any why is this line diverted? With vision such as we need at this time, and apart from -influences attracting Arapuni-wards, the Wafkarenmana hydro-electric scheme should be coordinated with the construction of the middle route and: its> electrification provided for. - So soon as our Chambers of Commerce realise the meaning of such a co-ordination of communication and electrical power tlie-v "ill perceive that this side-tracking lias a double meaning and. application as applied to the future of this East Coast district. Give its hydro-electric development at Waiknremoiimr, so as to utilise the natural wealth of this Last Coast country, ami there will be everywhere settlement. and industrial progress undreamt of under our present self-con-I,ented and dog-in-the-manger methods. My interest in Hie district i.s that of a citizen who. knowing the immense possihiiities of the East Const country from hero on to the Bay of Plenty, desires to set; brought into economic use all the laud and all the natural forces that a.ro here ready at - hand for the benefit of the people, and all awaiting development.

Let the Chambers of Commerce and those interested visit- the country of the proposed routes and judge for themselves. A saving of a few thousands mi Ihe one hand is the loss of millions mi lh L , other. The Minister of Dublin Works lacks vision in bis hydroclec--11 i:■;) 1 development methods ami is adopting the sul'e-track as a makeshift to hide Ibe manifest, benefit that must neenie t.n the Na-pier-Gisbonie. inland line by utilising the vast power that is offering at Waikaieiiioana as well for Government as for private and industrial use.