OLD TARANAKI DOCUMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1929, Page 3

OLD TARANAKI DOCUMENT

RAILROAD TO WELLINGTON EFFORTS OF EARLY SETTLERS. CORRESPONDENCE 65 YEARS AGO. The .efforts of the early settlers in Taranaki to have a railway constructed, between Wellington and New Plymouth are outlined in an interesting document G 5 years old in the possession of Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P. The document, entitled “Proposal to construct a railway between New Plymouth and the northern part of the province of Wellington,” consists of correspondence between Messrs. W. K. Hulke and W. Bayley and the Colonial Secretary of the time, Mr. W. Fox.

Extracts from the first letter, dated July 13, 1864, from Mr. W. K. Hulke to the Colonial Secretary, read as follows: “I have the honour of submitting for the consideration of the Colonial Government the following proposal for the construction of a railroad in the province of Taranaki, and which will form the main trunk line z of road through that province, connecting it at the same time with the province of Wellington at its northern boundary.

“The country through which it is proposed to make the line is particularly adapted for agricultural pursuits, and which country, unless such a work is executed, must be simply used for grazing purposes, and this would be a great impediment to the country being speedily occupied by settlers. Besides this important fact, the cost of transporting farm produce over a great extent of metal road effectually prevents all profitable farming. In the case of a railroad this would not occur, as an occupier of land residing from 69 to 80 miles out would be placed on the samr footing as one living only 20 miles out on a metal road.” • . Mr. Hulke then submitted the following proposition: “Firstly, the promoters of the undertaking’: require that every facility be granted them to obtain a rough survey of the country through which it is proposed to carry the line. Secondly, that if after executing a survey the promoters, find the country favourable for the formation of a railroad, they ,will be ■ prepared to form a comfwiny to carry out the.’undertaking on the following basis: That a substantial permanent-Way bp formed (single), capable of .running a locomotive of not less than 15 tons Weight, with the necessary carriages. .That the' . cost of such permanent way do not’ exceed the sum of £4OOO per mile. The company to be subsidised by land to be selected by the company in blocks, and the company to have the priority of choice, the land to be issued to them at U acres for the pound sterling." • ■ t THE GOA'ERNMENT’S. REPLY.

The Colonial Secretary replied: “Tlw Government cannot ‘in the present position of affairs commit itself to any definite expression of opinion oil the subject, but it is prepared to place the services of a surveyor at the disposal of those on whose behalf you write.”

On July 22 Mr. Hulke wrote again to the Colonial Secretary enclosing the following minute fron) a meeting of the Provincial Council; “That this council, having heard Mr. Hulke oil the desirability of the construction of a railway in preference to the construction of an ordinary metalled road through the province towards,the south, is of opinion that a railway, if practicable, would be preferable.” . In reply to a further letter from Mr. Hulke the Colonial Secretary's Office stated that- (1) “The Government docs not propose to be at any expense further than by placing the services of a surveyor gratuitously at the disposal of the. promoters to make a preliminary survey; (2) whilst viewing favourably the general' idea of making a railway at the cost mentioned, the General Government feels that it would be premature, in the present condition of the province of Taranaki, to come to any decision

The. cudgels were then taken up by Mr. Bayley, who wrote: “Sooner or later, we may presume, the rebels of this province will be conquered and the question Will then be, how are they to be held in such subjection as to prevent future aggression? I have long given consideration to the colonising of this province. We have no harbours of refuge, our maritime expenses are great, and the making of a metalled road, constructed at great cost and indefinitely prolonged as to its completion, is, I fear, a slow process of populating a district. The expenses of military tenure for holding a Urge country with a scattered population for an indefinite, time will, I am satisfied, greatly exceed its advantages, and metalled roads, without the accompaniment of harbours adjacent thereto, will place the outlying districts at a very disadvantageous state, obliging them to purchase all articles of import at an advance of 20 per cent., and to sell their produce at a similar reduction on the average prices, thus necessarily retarding their progress in civilisation as in countries similarly situated. - r . “The time of adjustment must come, when every province must pay its just share of the cost of the war; • but I regret to say that this province will be unable to meet its liabilities in that respect, while in its present- position as to land and finance.” Mr. Bayley then outlined a scheme for the railroad, balancing the cost of the line against the prices realised, by the land opened for settlement and showing a profit of £210,000. ‘ “And I am sanguine," he continued, “that this work could be completed in 18 months after the conclusion of the war, and if tlie Government would/give over the land for the construction of the work I am confident that the province would be able to pay its fair share of the cost of the war.” , The Colonial Office wrote acknowledging Mr. Bayley’s letter and thanking him for his suggestions. Mr. Hulke then returned to the attack in April, 1865, stressing the need for immigrants to prevent further outbreaks amongst the native races and the assistance a railway would give to settlement. He proposed that a railroad be formed from New Plymouth to Patea, passing on the inland side of Mount Egmont. He again offered to form a company to carry out the construction works, the company to receive as payment concession of lands. . The' Under-Secretary of the Colonial. Office replied: “I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter and am directed; to inform you that your proposal will be laid. before the General- Assembly-”