Proposed Paeroa-Waihi Railway.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8608, 12 March 1897, Page 3

Proposed Paeroa-Waihi Railway.

(by telegraph—own cobrespondknt.) Auckland, March 11. The New Zealand Exploration Com pany through their representative, Mi R. K. Hunt, are busj'ing themselves in regard to a project for connecting WaiM, Waitekauri, Owharoa and Karangahake by rail with Faeroa. The Company has already engager! Mr Ashley Hunter to make a flying survey of the proposed route, and " by plans now sketched out it is seen that taking the Junction, l'aeroa, for the starting point the line will pass through the township following the lino of the main road as far as Mackaytown, and theuco forward to the newly-surveyed township of Baratu, passing the New Zealand Crown Mine's battery, and then crossing over to Karangahake. A tunnel is then to be made through the hill, after which the line again crosses the river and follows the southern bank up to the site of the new battery now in course of construction at Owharoa for the AVaihi Company. The line crosses the river once more and follows the northern bank until it reaches the junction of the present main road through Waitete and thence across the country to Waihi township. Just above Owharoa it is proposed that a branch line should run up "Waitekauri valley to the township, the total length of the proposed tramway being about 20 miles. The initial expense of the survey has been borne by the New Zealand Exploration, Company, whicli is also prepared to undertake the whole work without asking any assistance from the Government. An application will be placed before the Ohinemuri County Council at its next meeting to obtain the necessary rights to enable the work to be proceeded with. If these are granted no time will be lost in starting operations. The New Zealand Exploration Company has undertaken this work mainly on account of the great interest held by that body in tho Crown and other mining properties. It is not proposed to ask for any concessions whatever from the Government, and as this survey has already been completed it will relieve the Hon. Mr Cadman of the expense of having another made by the Government Department. Although called a steam tramway the proposed line will be really a light railway similar to those constructed in Prussia, Fiance, India, Switzerland, and also moi'O recently in Tasmania; This railway should also, if constructed, help to solve the difficulty of getting good bridges over the river at Mackaytown and Karangahake. The Crown ."Mines Company has already offered £350 towards a bridge near their property, and the Hon. Mr Cadman spoke about granting £1,000 for bridges, so that if a traffic and tramway bridge is combined substantial structures should be erected.