RAILWAY SURVEYS.

Waipa Post, Volume IV, Issue 192, 28 February 1913, Page 3

RAILWAY SURVEYS.

KAWHIA-MAIN TRUNK. TE AWAMUTU-PUTARURU,

We are advised that a survey party under Mr L. B. Campbell, of the Public Works Department at Kawhia on Wednesday, being at present encamped at Oparau for the purpose of making a reconnaissance survey of the railway route from Kawhia harbour to ,the Main Trunk line. This is in fulfilment of a promise given last session by the Minister for Public Works (Mr Fraser) to deputations from Te Awamutu' which waited upon him immediately before the session. The reconnaissance work will probably occupy the party for six weeks or more, first exploring the Kawhia to Te Awamutu, Kawa or Otorohanga route, with special reference to its continuance to Putaruru over easy country, or practically a straight alignment of about 40 to 50 miles. Such a railway-would bring the

Waipa and Upper Waikato Valleys, together with the whole of the inland King Country into direct and close communication with Kawhia, the distance from Oparau to the Main Trunk railway being only eighteen miles in an air line, and from Oparau to a deep water berthage at Kaw- / hia a fuither six. It would also touch Moerangi, Pirongia West, and Kawhia south, running through the immense coal deposits of the later district, while the connection with the Waipa and Waikato would ensure the . establishment of freezing works at Kawhia, and the Putaruru connection would represent a profitable export trade of totara timber. Other routes to be explored will be one right through the Moerangi block to Frankton, openingup a large area, of country, and approaching near the head waters of Raglan and Aotea Harbours. Yet anothhr is from the direction of Waitomo. The party are at present camped at Oparau, where they will remain for some days, working east and west towards Kawhia and Te-Rau-a-Moa, subsequently crossing the Hauturu range to the Waipa side.