NEW PLYMOUTH—OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143670, 14 December 1911, Page 4

NEW PLYMOUTH—OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In Aur report of last Chamber of Comnie® meeting I noticed- that Mr. W. 8.-Davies urged that body to advocate the construction of a railway lino, from Now Plymouth via Carrington Road, and stated that the timber, firewood, and farmers’ produnce would warrant the money spent. 1 am surprised that Mr. Davies, with his knowledge of the Pouakai apd Kaitaki country, did not state that the vast mineral wealth stored in those ranges would pay for any kind of railway running through and tapping those deposits lying undeveloped there. The following minerals arc now proved to exist there in highly payable qualities, viz., gold, silver, copper, zinc, nickel silver, manganese, cobalt,, plumbago, ajid other elements such as silica, sulphur, arsenic and a variety of pyritio ores, all having commercial value; last, out not least, hematite iron ore in great abundance. I may also mention that pitchblende/from which .radium is obtained, has been found at the mouths of streams running from these ranges, and 1 am certain that radio-active deposits will yet bo found in Taranaki. Thinking this,.an opportune time to bring these facts under the notice of the public and thanking you for space. — I an:, etc., J. H. SMI TH.