CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3524, 15 May 1912, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE OPOTIKI RAILWAY,

(to the editor.) Sir, —The coming of the Prime Minister and the Ministers of several other Departments of the Government to Poverty Bay offers a great chance for settlei s in country districts to bring their claims 'and difficulties xiuder their notice. As a settler of many years’ standing in the Motu country and as one who took up town and country land on the distinct understanding of rail--1 way communication becoming availi able, I am writing to bring under the notice of the Prime Minister and' the Hon. Minister for Public "Works the importance of fixing the route from Matawai to Motu so that it mightproceed along the country known as The Whitakau Papamoa, instead of the Pakahi, as suggested by one or two persons. The former route is not merely the better route, but it passes through settled country, there being a hundred settlers in the Whitakau Papamoa as compared with about a dozen in the Pakahi country. The dairying industry is sure to flourish in the Whitakau' Papamoa if facilities are provided for easy and cheap transit. Besides, a line along the route named would open up a large area of country in the Mangatu district at present inaccessible from Motu. No doubt Hon. Mr MacDonald is well acquainted with the country named, and as lie was with Lion. R. McKenzie, the late Minister for Public Works, when he passed through the district, ho is well acquainted with the conditions now existing. The works are being pushed forward rapidly and every settler in the Motu is heartily in sympathy with the railway being carried on to Opotiki by way of Whitikaii, so that I, with other settlers, hope the question will be filially set at rest during tlie coming Ministerial visit. —I am, etc., 'JR. F. JACKSON. Opotiki County Council.