RAILWAY TO AWAKINO.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1920, Page 8

RAILWAY TO AWAKINO.

EXTENSION OP WAITARA LINE. REPORT UPON THE ROUTE. Below is a report upon the trial running of a railway line from Waitara to Mokau-Awakmo. Mr. Jennings, M.P., moved for this report last session. Lately there has been an agitation for a railway to be authorised from this end, to join with the proposed light line of railway contemplated from Puketautu (Main Trunk line) to Aria, Pio Pio, and Te Kuiti. The Clifton Council, through C'r. Jones of Okau, has moved in this matter. I have to report as follows: —I was unable to inspect personally or send an officer over this district until the beginning of September. On September 2nd 1 left Stratford and took until Friday going over the various routes. I am of opinon that the proper route would be from Urenui along the main road until the Mimi Valley is reached, then along the Mimi to the head of the Valley until the, Mt. Messenger ridge is reached, thence with a i-mile tunnel through dividing ridge into the Mangapepeti creek, a tributary of the Tongaporutu, thence along the Tongaporutu River and cross same near mouth; from this point keep along the coast right up to Awakino. From Urenui (about the 20-milo on the road to the junction of Pukearuhe and Mimi-Mokau Roads (24 miles) (he line would be fairly easy and straight. From this point to Uruti the country is fairly heavy, and a number of expensive bridges across the Mimi will be required. Even then the line will contain a great number of curves. From Uruti (31 miles) to the head of the Mimi is comparatively easy going although there will be several crossings of the river. A 35 to 40 chain tunnel will be required through the dividing range under Mt. Messenger road saddle and 1J miles of one in ")() falling grade from there down the Mangapepeti Stream, this \h miles will ]be fairly heavy country. From the foot of the grade to the crossing of the Tongaporutu River will be medium and heavy. The bridge over the river would be between six and seven chains long and would probably cost £10,00(1 or £12,000. A steep'grade will be necessary from the river up on to the terrace at 4S miles on the road mileage in Tongaporutu township. From tins point up to the Mohakatino River the formation work will be very easy except at the crossings of the Hapanni and Kuwhatahi creeks. A SOO-ft bridge would be required over the Mo-

hakatine River. The lino from this point would keep well out near the coast line until the Mokau pilot station is readied, when it will require-to go through a short tunnel and sidle down to the point of a spur near the present road crossings of the river. The bridge over the Mokau River would probably cost £20,000. The line could then be taken either through the Mokan township by rising with a heavy grade from Ihe bridge up into the township, thence following along the coast info Awakino township, or by running from/ the bridge up a small Hut creek and through tlie dividing ridge with a tunnel into the Awakino Valley. This latter route would probably save a mile in distance. I estimate that a standard line laid wild 5511) rails would cost roughly for the forty odd miles, about £447,000 Out of this about O);(i00 would be required for bridges over the Tongaporutu and Mokan Rivers, and another C-'IO.OOO for a tunnel through Mt. Messenger ridge. KSTIMATE. ltusd Cost per mile. Mileage. Miles £ - £ 20—24 4 at 7000 28,000 24—til 7 at 10,000 70,009 BRIDGKS. it—37 r,i{, at SOOil .14.(101) 37—39 \-, lit 15,000 ".(ID TUX.N'BL, JIT. MRSRKXHEK. 39—41 V.i at. la, 09(1 22,.">00 41—47 0 at 12,000 72,000 BRIDGE OVER TOXGAPORUTU RIVK'R. (£12,000). 47—48 1 at 20,i)00 20,000 45—55 7 at 0000 42,000 BRIDGE OVKR MOHAKATINO RIVER, t £1)000). 55—5 i) 1 at 20,000 20,000 BRIDGE OVER .MOKAU RIVER, (£20,000.) r.0—57 1 at 15,000 15,000 57-4)1 4 at 8000 32,000 £447.000 The coast route from 24 miles along the coast through I'ukearulie was also looked at. The route would be nearly live utiles shorter, but would not serve the country so well. The 4i miles of line through J'ukearuhe through the Parininilti Range would be particularly ! rough. A deviation of the Miini route ( might be made as shown on litho from i near the 30 mile peg on road to the 41 | mile peg. This would probably be over ! a. mile shorter than the (irst route, but would require two tunnels. lam of opinion that if it is decided to coni .struct any part of this proposed railway in the immediate future it should I only lie taken as far as the 24 mile peg |at the junction of the road to Pukearuhe, and would only cost from Urej nui to 24 miles, about L2H,(H)O. At I Uruti township the Stratford-Main 1 Trunk railway would only be 2:1 miles lawny by the Uruti and Moki Roads. I Tongaporutu, Mokau and Awakino are fairiy well served by water at present. Messrs. P.attcnbury run a launch from Waitara to Tongaporutu and Mokan. land charge ,C 1 Ills per tun to TongaIponilii and Ul 5s per ton to Mokan. I The s.s. Pitoitoi runs between Waitara, Mokau and Awakino, and the charges are: Waitiira-Moknu Ul 5:,; Waitai'iiAwakino £1 Ss per lon. Note.-It. is to be understood that the estimates in the above report were J prepared, in 1012 and cannot now lie I taken as the c-t minted cost, of coiljstruction of the extension.