EAST COAST RAILWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3168, 14 March 1911, Page 2

EAST COAST RAILWAY.

A ROTORUA CONNECTtON. MINISTER'S ASSURANCE. >' [SPECIAL TO TIMES.] ROTORUA, March 13. A deputation from the Rotorua Railway League waited upon the Hon. R. McKenzie (Minister for Public Works) to urge upon him the claim of the town for.direct communication with the- East Coast railway system. Air W. D. S. MacDonald, ALP., explained tliat.it was hoped a line would be carried from Rotorua to join the East Coast line at Paengaroa. This would connect the main railway system with the East Coast by a direct route, and when the East Coast line was carried through to Tauranga would, also effectually open up all the country between that port and the junction. By pursuing such a plan it was believed that the connection would be established 10 years or so earlier than by building the railway through to Waihi. It was eminently desirable to connect Rotorua up with the East Coast on account of the large amount of traffic that would be certain to result. The Minister said that the people of Rotorua need not worry about the matter at all. The line would certainly lie connected with Waihi, but ' wo id.as certainly also be joined with Rotorua, though the question of what route the collection would be made by eoukl not yet be determined. The Alain East Coast line would pass within about 26 miles of Rotorua, and it was certain that when that happened the district would i.otrest till the space was bridged. But until tiie present construction had been carried some distance southward of Te Puke nothing could be done towards making a line to Rotorua, and sui'-eys were necessary first in any ease.