TAUPO-TOTARA PETITION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 21, 17 September 1912, Page 6

TAUPO-TOTARA PETITION.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, September 17. Further evidence was heard to-day in connection with the Tanpo-Totara Timber Co.’s petition. Mr J. H. Blow, Under-Secretary for Public Works, referring to the company’s line, said it would cost about £15,000 to put the railway into proper condition for the general traffic of a light railway. The formation would have to be improved, houses for employees would have to be erected, then the general equipment of the rolling stock to deal with the general traffic of the district would have to be provided, and this would probably cost £40,000. In this estimate lie had allowed for four locomotives only, considering locomotives at present in use would be required for ordinary traffic. In reply to a question, witness said he hardly thought it woidd pay to run a standard lino at the present time; if a standard line were to be constructed, he would recommend the Rotorua route to Taupo. Rotorua could not be cut out of the tourist traffic if the Tauranga line was connected with Rotorua (there is a gap of 22 miles), and the Rotorua line was then extended to Taupo, the total distance over the whole route being 100 miles. There was no doubt that Tauranga would bo the shipping port for Taupo, and not Auckland, which was 140 miles distant.

I Mr E. E. Vaile, farmer, Waiotapu, gave evidence strongly supporting the construction of the line from Rotorua j to Taupo. If the Government constructed such a line it would link up all the thermal sites in one continuous I journey, and it would open, to settle- ! merit a vastly larger area than any other railway that could be constructed. He claimed there was nothing to he gained from a public point of view by adopting the company’s proposal. The committee adjourned till 'Thursday.