COAST TO COAST

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14262, 13 January 1920, Page 2

COAST TO COAST

LIGHT RAILWAY PROJECT. UNBOUNDED POSSIBILITIES. '■ So great are the possibilities for light railways from the centre of the North Island to the ports on both coasts, that the suggestion has now been made to the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce, that that body should endeavour to get a light lino through from Tauranga to Matamala, which, if the Frankton-P.aglan-Kawhia project is successful, would give a railway connection right across the Island. At a meeting of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce last night, the president, Mr G. Parr, presented a report on the recent operations of the West Coast Railway League, in which lie stated:— It is with considerable satisfaction that 1 have to report that the campaign arranged last monlh by the Chamber to visit Raglan and Kawhia to advocate connecting’ the west coast ports by means of a light railway with the Main Trunk line at Frankton was an unqualified success,

The delegates, accompanied by Captains Dansey, Worley and Bruce, all three having had some years of experience in successfully working light railways. met with splendid receptions en route. Captain Dansey and Captain Worley, both railway engineers of many years experience, keenly commented on the formation of the country during our progress to the two seaports! Both wore of the opinion that it would he a simple engineering proposition to link up Raglan and Kawhia with the broad gauge in the Waikato, by means of a light railway system. The proposed route would leave. Fr-mkton find traverse Ngahinepouri and Tuhikaramea, crossing the Waipa river at Karamu until the Raglan range was approached. A short tunnel of some 300 yards would carry the. rail-w-v into the Moerangi Valley. In this valley the junction would be formed, one branch running along the Waitct ma Valley to the township of Raglan; the other branch would follow the Moerangi Valley past Oparau into Kawhia.

At Raglan we met a large and representative gathering, and great ir l **rest was evinced in the proposal outlined by the various delegates. A committee of prominent townsmen and settlers was formed to represent Raglan on the West Coast Light Railway League, and an energetic executive committee was set up to canvass the district.

Kawhia gave tlie delegates a splendid reception, and the meeting arranged tohear the visitors’ views on the importance of establishing a light railway service to link up their seaport with the Main Trunk line was very largely attended. The ..whole proceedings were of a most enthusiastic mlure. A nu-i----ber of the prominent and pushing men of the district were t elected to see that Kawhia plays a prominent part in the light railway campaign. Pirongia also hurriedly arranged a meeting, and invited the delegates to supply details of the scheme, which they were anxious to see given a fair trial. The delegates and engineers are unanimously of opinion that the Chamber cannot be too strongly urged to concentrate Its efforts until the West Const light railway becomes an accomplished fact. Hamilton will then have I ' cPo'ce of two harbours, each within approximately 35 miles, one to the west r ■ the other to the south-west. Hig’'" harbour is navigable for fair-

s'earners, and when tiie proposed deepening improvements at. the bar arc e cried out, large vessels will be able *■> come alongside lire splendid new wharf now rapidly approaching completion. :

'■ K'nwhia is magnificently endowed with deep water at any state of the tide, atd is at the present time quite f 'Dfdiie of giving wharfage to some of the largest steamers afloat. The barhour lias a depth of -U) feet right to the town frontage. This means, with transport facilities such as a light railway would certainly provide, that Hamilton could he in touch with overseas liners 33. miles distant, instead of 8G as at present. The immense saving in railage is obvious. Then, again, Kawhia is Hie nearest deep-water port to Sydney (Australia), being, I understand, a full day’s steaming closer than Auckland. It is only-a question of having sufficient population when the West Coast harbours will come into great prominence.

Not only, said Mr Parr, would the light railways give access to the harbours mentioned, hut they would open up an immense tract of country lying between Hamilton and the coast, most of which was roadless. The •bringing of this into profitable use would be of immense benefit to the whole district, and not merely Co one or two isolated parts. The mepits of the Moerangi block, with its. .splendid timber and mineral deposits, had previously been referred to. The products from this valley alone (which contains a returned soldiers’ reserve of 10,000 acres) is estimated by the engineers and others to be quite sufficient to defray the whole cost of constructing the line. Apart from the commercial phase of the light railway to Raglan and Kawhia, the two ports will probably become great summer seaside resorts. Passenger fares could he reduced to a minimum to enable whole families and camping parties to enjoy the advantage of a complete change of climate; and scenery at a cost probably within reach of all. The journey to either place by rail could be done under two hours. Captain Dansey, said the speaker, in reply to a question at Raglan, staled that he roughly estimated the cost of the light railway, completed, from Ham.-, illon to Raglan and Kawhia, with "all the locomotives and rolling stock sufficient to carry on for a considerable time, at somewhere about £130,000. When you consider' this would give approximately, with sidings. .80 miles of railways and also benefit land for 10 miles on either side of the line, wo would be securing enormous advantages for a relatively small outlay. It was also considered that freezing works would, in the ordinary sequence of tilings, bo erected on the harbours on similar lines to Whangarei and Whakatnne. Incidentally, I might mention {fa.it I have written to Mr J. Murdoch, president of the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce, asking him to get Ids Chamber to carefully consider a proposal to connect Tauranga with Matarnata toy means of a light railway, tf Tauranga is successful in this object- and forms an East Coast connection with the broad gauge on Hie Rotorua line, and wo are equally successful in the West Coast project, it will then be possible la traverse from coast to coast by an efficient, railway system. This would give a big impetus to the* development ■of the middle portion of the North Island, and he the means of attracting population inland. In addition it would play a prominent part in utilising the splendid natural harbours of Tauranga, Kawhia and Raglan.

In conclusion, on behalf of the delegates, I would ask that this Chamber keep in constant touch with the West Coast Light Railway League, and assist that body by every means in empower to carry the scheme to completion. The smaller towns are looking to us for guidance and support, and it is to our mutual advantage to assist them in every way possible. It was decided to call a conference, of representatives of various brandies of the League at an eariy date to furtl;.?r discuss the project.