THE RAILWAY ROUTE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16372, 21 June 1927, Page 7

THE RAILWAY ROUTE.

(To the Editor of the Herald.) Sr,—Until your correspondent “Railways” stated it, I was unaware of any supporters of the Coast route living in Poverty Bay, and in any innocence laid thought- that only those interested, and seeking to. bolster,up Waikokopu. would ever dream of building a railway along the coast. One of the leading .men. and possibly the largest farmer in Poverty Bay, has said that if the Government should build a railway on that route they would do any d thing. I think he was right. Now, sir, no farmer would dispute the value and quality of the land up to Muriwai. Tt- is the beyond that is

in question. Would "Railways" compare the tawhiua and blackberry-covered hills and cliffs of the coast with, the hills and valleys of Hangaroa and Tahunga? It is too ridiculous .to think of. The coast country is so inaccessible and broken that no site exists on which to build a railway station for 15£ miles. Of what good is a railway to a district if it cannot be used? The head of a Government department staled that a.lift would be required to get down to it if built. The Inland route would open large areas of country, and several cutting up pro-1 positions'would be intersected by good roads from both sides to act as feeders, ! and mile for mile be very much cheaper' to build than any route along the coast. \ This fine district* has too many white

elephants already without adding still another in the shape of.a coastal railway. I am, etc., ■ "SETTLER."