THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 20, 21 May 1912, Page 5

THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

SITTINGS OF THE COMMISSION

The Opunake Railway Commission sat at Eltham yesterday. Mr E. Parrott, chairman of the Eltham Chamber of Commerce, advocated the .construction of the line along the reserved route. Eltham was the most suitable centre to serve the district, and a line along the reserve would immediately serve ten of the established factories. Most of the others would doubtless see their way to establish Cheese-curing depots along the route of the line.

Mr James Phillips, farmer, and a member of the Eltham County Council, favoured the adoption of the reserved route, and dwelt upon the difficulties of obtaining supplies of road metal and coal in the absence of a railway. Ho answered several questions regarding the probable traffic in pigs and stock over the proposed railway.

Mr T. R. Crump, Mayor of Eltham, who was unable, owing to urgent private business,, to he, present, telegraphed, advocating the adoption of the central route.

Mr George' 'H.j Buckoridge, .representing the Eltham Chamber of Commerce ,urged the claims of Eltham as the ultimate; junction of railways" to - Opunake find to the North Island Main Trunk line. Mr F. Arr.oore, Eltham borough councillor, referred to the heavy cost of transporting building materials over the roads to the dairy farms.

Mr Leonard Hill, borough councillor, supported the adoption of the reserved route.

Mr Jacob Marx, of Mangatoki, will give evidence at Stratford.

Mr Walter C. Clement, sawmiller, was of opinion that the route along the surveyed reserve would ho the most suitable for adoption. A tramway from Hawera to Manaia would also be required to serve the southern portion of the district. Mr Forsyth, chairman of directors of the Eltham Dairy Company, was in favour of the route along the reserve.

Mr Arthur Grey, farmer, of Matapu, favoured the originally surveyed route. Mr John Heslop thought the route close to the Skect road, joining the main line at Te Roti, would be the most suitable.