RAILWAY ROUTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 11936, 25 March 1914, Page 6

RAILWAY ROUTES.

ADDRESS BY MR PHILLIPS

Mr Coleman Phillips addressed tbo Borough Council last evening in refercneo to the proposed deviation of the railway. In addition to the Mayor and eight .councillors there were present, — Messrs 0. E. Danicll, J. G. Cooper, J. Gasclberg and J. Milne.

After being introduced by the Mayor, Mr Phillips said that boforo anything could be done the "Wairarapa must get together mid show a combined front. The people of South Wairarapa favoured the Wainui-o-mata route, and he could assure them that the people of Wellington were also behind that route. The central line would not be interfered with. There would be a deviation at Waiorongomai to link up tlio line, after which the question of •the East Coast line could be discussed, and whether it should start from Masterton or another place. He would like to set , a committee of the Council set up to meet the Wellington City Council on the subject. Over 20 years ago he had abandoned the route favoured to-day by Mr Danicll, that is the Woodside route. Mr Phillips said that he had gone thoroughly iuto the matter, and had suggested and examined various routes. From Wairarapa to Woodvillo the people should go carefully into the matter, and l>e unanimous on a route. The Hon. Mr Fraser was not H'oing to favour Air DauielFs route, or the speaker's route, but would adopt a medium route, viz., the old coach road route over the Khnutaka. This wauld cost £181,000, instead of £083,----000 for the Woodsicle route. Touching on the proposal to harness the liuamalianga, and Waingawa for power purposes, he said that the Tauherenikau river was a, better proposition, and could be used for "electrifying" the railway up through the Waii'arapa. The route over the h'imutaka. via Woodsidc, was an intricate one, and the Wainui-o-mata route was a simple one. .He advised them to read the Government engineer's report on the latter route.

The Mayor said that they had already read the engineer's report. Continuing, Mr Phillips .said that Wellington considered that it could have a beautiful suburb at the Onoke and W'airarapa lakes; this was one reason why the Waiuui-o-mata route was favoured. The Wainui-o-mata route reduced the distance to Wellington by three miles, and by the Woodside route seven miles, but considerable time would be saved by the former route. They should get together on the matter. The Mayor said that he had convoyed to Mr Phillips by letter that he could not guarantee that such a resolution as he proposed would be carried, as it would set aside what the district of Masterton had boon advocating for years. The most important thing Mr Phillips had said was that they should get together. Masterton was convinced on the proper route, and was prepared to submit the matter to export opinion. Mr T>auiell spoke in favour of the Woodsido route on lines Avhich In , has spoken on previous occasions. fie objected to Mr Phillips placing his opinion before those of an expert. The South Wairarapa. by political wire-pulling, had been responsible for the present blunder over the Kimutaka . Mr .1. C. Cooper said that lie could not see what ail vantage there would be in setting up a. committee to discuss the matter. The Minister had promised to have all the routes surveyed and the beM expert obtained. .Matters should be left at that at the present time. He moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Phillips. The , motion was carried. Mr Phillips suitably acknowledging it.