RAILWAY REFORM.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIII, 24 May 1922, Page 3

RAILWAY REFORM.

NO INTENTION OF DELAY. (Per Press Association —Copyright.) WELLINGTON, May 23. It is not the intention of the Government to delay the operation of reforms proposed in the railway service, but the final decision regarding the appointments must be deferred till the General Manager, who Is at present in the South Island, has returned and conferred with the Minister.

The selection of a Board of Experts will require much careful consideration, as it is not intended to allow seniority or such claims to promotion

to prevent the appointment of the men best fitted to give results in the job. The same will apply to the appointment of two business agents, for whom, if suitable men are available, the Department will not necessarily be restricted to the Public Service.

RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT. IMPORTANT NORTH ISLAND BRANCH.

MATIERE, May 23. The first Public Works passenger train ran from Okahukura to Matiere to-day, connecting with the morning train from Taumarunui. It marked the completion of the first section of the east end of the Stratford main trunk line. The first sod was turned at the Stratford end in March, 1901, by Sir William Hall-Jones, and the first sod .was turned at Taumarunui in November 1911 by Sir Joseph Ward. The line was first completed at the Stratford end, and 47 miles, to the Tahora section, are now completed at the Taumarunui end. It is ten miles from the main trunk line at Okahukura to Matiere; the connecting line between Matiere and Tahora is 31 miles. The Hon. J. G. Coates, in the last Public Works 'Statement, hoped that the line would reach Ohura within 12 months, and when that is completed an hour’s run in a motor car will temporarily connect the ends of the line and give a through passage from New Plymouth to Auckland.The settlers in Ohura and the Matiere have waited 20 years for the railway, contending with bad roads, without metal. The early completion of this section, since Mr Coates became Minister, is due to concentration of men at this end with the object of opening up rich and well-developed' country. To do this expeditiously temporary bridges were built, while permanent work is proceeding. Ballasting is completed over more than half the line, and a temporary station is erected at Matiere. The first part of the journey, about

two miles from the main trunk, is through a tunnel nearly a mile in length. After that there are four

shorter tunnels to Matiere. The train held about 400 passengers m open trucks, and the journey was safely made in two hours, the train arriving at 12.35 p.m. A large crowd was waiting at Matiere and welcomed the train.

Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P., welcomed

the Hon. J. G. Coates to the district, and the Minister then declrfled the line open, mentioning that it had cost approximately £33,000 per mile. ■