THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 94, 20 April 1912, Page 7

THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

HAW ERA BOROUGH COUNCIL DISCUSSION. At the monthly meeting of the Hawera Borough Council on Wednesday night the Mayor (Mr H. K. Whittington) referred to the Commission to visit Taranaki -on connection with the proposed railway to Opunako. There was no doubt that the Commission would sit in Hawera and he thought there should he representatives from the Council to give evidence before tno Commission. Cr Morris agreed with the Mayor and moved that a committee be set up to give evidence before the Commission, and that Crs Barra by and Goodson be appointed the committee. Cr Baker seconded the motion. He said he would like to know what were the views of the Council on this question. He did not think the Council were unanimous as to whether the railway or a tram ought to bo constructed. Cr. Reid: The tram every time. (Laughter). Cr Baker: There is a difference of opinion and unless our representatives know what we really want it would be rather difficult for them to act. Cr Morris said he would alter Ills motion to read that the Council is in favour of a tramway to Kaupokonui and that the representatives give evidence before the Commission on that line. The Mayor said the linking up,with Manaia and the codst would have to bo accomplished by some way or another, whether by tram or railway. No one railway to Opunako was, going to take the whole of the stuff; if the railway came to Afatvcra it would require another via the Kaponga district. Cr Jones emphasised that the main point to he considered was the relieving of the traffic on the main road. Cr Morrisey considered the resolution was rather '• premature. He was quite satisfied to support the tramway provided it was going to be -.of value to tho town, .and until such timers it was known what the freight was likely to cost and also the cost of maintaining it, and the amount of money it would earn, it was rather soon to say that the Council would support the tram or not. If it was going to he of benefit to the town, then it would be wrong to oppose it, hut it it was going to he a “bugbear” then it would lie wrong to support it. It would he the duty of the representatives to ascertain all the facts and give their evidence before tho Commission, but not to commit th.e Council. He would oppose the resolution. Cr Goodson referred to the heavy upkeep of the internal roads in the district, and said there must be some finality to it, and the best way of doing this was by placing tho traffic on rails. Considering the value of their exports lie thought the district was entitled to a railway more than any other part of tho Dominion. Cr Barmby thought tho point raised by Cr Baker ought to be settled first. Are the delegates to go out authorised to represent the Council or to speak for themselves. The Mayor: You are to get all the information you can to give evidence before tho Commission. Cr Baker thought the Council should first know whore the railway was likely to ho placed before coming to a definite opinion about the tramway because the railway might he put so far south as to make it unnecessary to have the tram. The motion ought to be nltcred in this respect. Cr Morris did not think the resolution committed the Council to anything, beyond an expression of opinion, for after all it was a matter for the ratepayers to decide. Cr Reid acquiesced. Cr Morris added that the present method of carting was too primitive and he thought every member of the Council would ho in favour of seeing a tram along the South Road. The Mayor: I think so, too. Or Goodson: It is a progressive movement. After some further discussion the motion was carried.