TAUPO RAILWAY

Putaruru Press, Volume XX, Issue 1193, 1 August 1946, Page 7

TAUPO RAILWAY

GOVERNMENT TO CONSTRUCT T.T. Line To Be Purchased Problems Of the Waikato River The possibility of the Government adding to the national network of railway services by the purchase of the Taupo Totara Timber Company’s private line was mentioned by Mr. Semple during his review of the developments planned for the Waikato River basin. At the present time the line was a losing proposition, and after some consideration the Government had decided to acquire it down as far as the 19-mile peg, from whence a fresh route was being surveyed via Atiamuri towards Taupo, said the Minister. This line would approach within reasonable distance of each of the Waikato power developments in turn, so that it would provide transport for heavy materials and a railhead for each hydro-electric station, while at the same time serving the timber and farming interests through which it passed.

In surveying this line further on the Government was seeking to prospect its value in assisting in the settlement of much good farming land as well as its suitability to tap various stands of timber on the way and to give access to the hydro-electric projects of the Upper Waikato development. The new railway would, of course, require statutory authority, but negotiations with the company for purchase were proceeding. In the meantime the Government was meeting the operating losses so that the existing services would not be discontinued before the new and improved service was ready- “ Like most valuable assets, the Waikato Itiver has its problems,” said Mr: Semple- “ With a catchment of 0500 square miles, which is over onetwentieth of the size of the Dominion, the river carries considerable flood waters. Although the hydro-electric schemes will control the water in the upper reaches, the Waipa, which joins at Ngaruawahia, drains a tremendous basin over its length of 205 miles with 17 tributaries.” The flow should be able to be regularised, owing to the hydro schemes, and additional works in the lower reaches might well produce many acres of fertile farmlandThe Lands and Survey Department, charged with the task of settling a maximum of returned servicemen on the land, planned an extensive programme of development and subdivision of farms wherever land was suitable in the area and was available. The management, development and expansion of the great State forests at Kaingaroa, Waiotapu, Pureora and Maramarua were projects of first national importance, both for the immediate production of timber and for the long-term creation of reserves of timber. Between Paerara and Ohinewai the railway was to be duplicated, and consideration was being given to the electrification of the line from Frankton to Auckland. The construction of the dams necessary to utilise the fall of the Waikato River would necessitate the development of temporary townships for the artisans and their families which, when the stations began to operate, would dwindle to villages for powerhouse employees. Access was necessary by rail and road for transport of materials and the necessities would be of permanent service.