THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 201, 4 May 1912, Page 4

THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY

AN EXPERT COMMISSION. The Royal Commission, which has been appointed to inquire and report upon th« qiiusi.o:. of a route for the proposed Opunake railway, is believed to be only th« second Royal Commission that has been set up for such a purpose in New Zealand. The first waa that which settled the question of the route of the North Auckland railway, but the present Commission differs from its predecessor in consisting entirely of expert member* ol the Civil Service. Mr. R. W. Holmee, Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, is the chairman, and the other Commissioners are Mr. James Burnett (Chief Engineer of Eailways), Mr. G. Bullard (Commissioner of Crown Lands, Taranaki), and Mr. E. Clifton (Director of the Fields and Experimental Farmn Division, Department of Agriculture). It has been variously suggested that the proposed Opunake branch should junction with the main line of railway at Eltham, at Stratford, at Te Rot), at Hawera, or at some other point, while ill has also been urged that a line should b» taken from New Plymouth round the western side of Mount Egmont, through Opunake, to rejoin the main line at or near Hawera. All these alternatives will be considered by the Commission. vrhUh is directed to report not only as to the best route for a branch to Opun ;ke, but also as to whether any other railways or tramways are required to serve the area lying to the west of the main line of railway in Taranaki. The Commissioner will hold sittings and hear evidence as follows,—Hawera, May 8; Manaia, May 9; Opunake, May 10; Kaponga, May 11; Eltham, May 12; Stratford, May 14; New Plymouth, May 15. Mr. W. McNamara, Public Work's Office, is the secretary.