THE TAOPO RAILWAY.

Te Puke Times, Volume II, Issue II, 21 October 1913, Page 3

THE TAOPO RAILWAY.

AUTHORISED BY GOVERNMENT. , The extension of the Taupo Timber Company's light railway (which at present runs from Putaruru to Mokai) to Taupo will shortly be undertaken, an Order-in-Council authorising the extension of the line having been issued last week. The company's present line to Mokai has a length of 50 miles. The extension to Taupo will be 20 miies long, but the point -of junction with the existing line will be three miles from Mokai. The distance from Putarau to Taupo will thus be 67 miles. Under the terms of the Order-in-Council the Company is required to proceed with the work not later than the end of next year, and to complete it within three years ofjthe present time. These periods, however, are both maximum ones. When the work is started some time next year it will be pushed on as rapidly as possible, and it is not anticipated that it will take more than a few months to complete.

The total cost of the extension, ncluding equipment, is estimated at about £50,000. .It is intended to make the line available for passenger as well as goods traffic, and to provide a daily connection between Auckland and Taupo. It is proposed to use motor carriages, similar to two that are now being imported by the Railway Department for a trial upon the Government railways. It is stated that the Government is taking steps with a view to the immediate settlement of Crown lands situated along the company's .present railway and the proposed extension, and it is believed that there will be, as Mr Massey prophesied on his visit to the district, great development during the next five years in the settlement of this area. By means of the extension the company will be able to tap further timber areas a few miles beyond the present terminus.