TAUPO-ROTORUA RAILWAY.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13225, 30 September 1911, Page 1

TAUPO-ROTORUA RAILWAY.

[United I'eess Association.]

Wellington, Sept. 29. TJie Parliamentary committee whicfi is reporting on the petition of the Taupo-Totara Timber Company, met again to-day. The chairman read a telegram from a meeting held at Puturaru urging the favourable consideration of th;: Company's proposals. A similar message was also read from tho Taupo District Railway League. Edward Ear'.e Vaile, farmer, of Waiotapu, owning 53.000 acres, said tho proposed line would go within five miles of his laud. He thought the Government should construct a line irom Rotorua to Taupo, and success would !>;■ assured by the tourist traffic alone, but it was improbable that the line would he started within tlie next thirty years, therefore, private enterprise 'should be encouraged. He did not think the Government's right to purchase should be exercised for a reasonable period, but suggested that the Company might be allowed to charge higher rates than the State did for say live years. He did not oppose the Company's land purchase proposal. Replying to questions, witness said the scheme would undoubtedly do harm to Rotoriia. He thought the Company had acquired actual therm:-.] sites, rrnd these should he, safeguarded. H" had Jjcon farming for four years, and he was more satisfied every day that the country would be occupied by close settlement. The chairman: Which, in your opinion, wou'd lie the best line for the whole district? Witness: The line from Rotorua. :ic there is settlement en route. There is little or none, on the other. Replying to Mr. Dalzidl, witness iriid that although lip thought the Rotonia-Taupo line was the better on:-. Tic favoured the' Company's proposals on the nrinciple tint ha'f a loaf was l>;-tW lhan no bread. Wi!l:"m T.nuis Luxford, farmer, of TTf>niilto!i ,ahn strongly supported the Company's proposals.