TAUPO CO’S. RAILWAY

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14614, 15 March 1921, Page 5

TAUPO CO’S. RAILWAY

COMMISSION’S REPORT ADVERSE 70 STATE PURCHASE. SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, Monday. The report of the Commission which inquired into matters concerning the Tempo Totara Timber Company’s estate, was presented to Parliament to-day. The Commission llnds that the • quisition by the Crown of the to up,iiiy’s tramway would not be in Hie best interests of Hie Stale, and does not advise the purchase of any part of too line. The cost of altering the line to the standard of the Government railways would he ~£600,000, and Hie Commission does not recommend this expenditure. , . . The only extension recommended is cue from the Oruanui siding to the Oruanui township, and If made, it should Lvj carried out by Hie company. This Would bring Hie line within seven miles of Wairakci, and within ten miles of Taupo, and would enable the whole of the millabic timber in the locality to be profitably utilised. The Commission thinks it would not be in the public interest for the Crown to acquire the existing timber rights of the company at present. The nativeowned timber-bearing lands in the vicinity of Oruanui or between there and the shores of the Taupo Lake should be acquired by the Crown as soon as possible. A large area of country now lying waste may benefit to a certain extent by the company’s proposed extension, but can never be properly developed until a standard Government railway is built. Then all the indigenous timber should be milled, and organised continuous planting of exotic t.mbers undertaken, and so make the s windling industry permanent. All the available land should be disposed of on conditions ensuring Us utlb. ation to the best advantage.