I.—lo,

100

be of immense and immediate benefit to the Dominion, xvhilst the increase of State revenues from land-tax, postal services, stamp duties, &c, arising from settlement in the area xvould be very considerable. 5. That the opening of a passenger service to Wairakei and Taupo would mean the rapid development of a tourist district now not fully known, Taupo being the finest fishing resort in the xvorld; and this xvould result in largely increased passenger traffic upon the Government railway to and from Putaruru. 6. Your petitioners are assured that if the said tramxvay is completed to Taupo the necessary capital xvill be found for the erection of works at Taupo for the purpose of the preservation and sale of fish caught in the district. 7. Your petitioners' tramxvay has been constructed and used for the purpose of its timber traffic and a portion of the goods traffic of the Taupo district for a period of nearly seven years. It is substantially constructed, and your petitioners are advised by competent experts that it is sufficient for all the present needs of the goods traffic of the Taupo district, and that, with a small expenditure, it could be made fit for carrying passengers. 8. The total cost of the fifty miles of tramxvay constructed by the company, including rollingstock, is £130,000, and your petitioners are advised that the whole tramway from Putaruru to the proposed terminus at Taupo, as a light line capable of carrying goods'and passengers, can be completed for a further sum of about £50,000. 9. Your petitioners are desirous of completing the said tramway to Taupo, but they are advised that it is very doubtful if the traffic likely to be available for some time will be sufficient to pay xvorking-expenses and interest upon the cost of construction, and they are therefore desirous of obtaining assistance from the owners of the land xvhich xvill be benefited by the completion of the tramxvay. 10. That, as nearly the xvhole of the land to be so benefited consists of Crown lands and Native lands, your petitioners deem it advisable to make application to Parliament in order that provision may be made xvhereby these lands may bear a fair proportion of the cost of the construction of the said tramway and of the running-expenses of the tramway service. 11. That your petitioners believe they can arrange for the completion of the said tramway and the running of an effective passenger and goods service thereover, if the Crown and Native lands to be benefited thereby xvill contribute in some equitable proportion to the expense and risk involved. 12. The usual method by xxfiich the lands benefited by the construction of a tramway contribute to the cost thereof is the imposition of a rate, but it is suggested that these lands being pumice lands are not a fit subject for a rate, and your petitioners xvould respectfully urge that a proper contribution could best be made in either of the folloxving xvays : — (a.) By the proceeds of the sale of the Croxvn lands beneficially affected by the said tramway, and of an area of Native lands to be acquired at present values by the Crown, being applied toxvards the purchase of the said tramway, or (b.) By your petitioners being alloxved to purchase at present values a substantial area of the said Croxvn and Native lands. 13. That for the reasons stated your petitioners pray the House of Representatives will recommend the Governments — (a.) (1.) Either to take such steps as may be necessary to provide that the Crown and Native lands to be benefited by the completion of the said tramway may contribute in an equitable proportion to the cost of such completion and the running of a passenger and goods service on such tramxvay, or, in the alternative, — (2.) To empower your petitioners to purchase at present values, and dispose of on such, terms, conditions, and limitations as may be stipulated, an area of Crown or Native land in the districts to be affected bx- the said tramway not-exceeding 200,000 acres. (6.) To issue an Order in Council empoxvering your petitioners to extend their tramway to Lake Taupo, in the Toxvn of Taupo. r i F. G. Dalziell, ),-.. [ SEAL '] William Collins, | Dlre °t°rs.

EXHIBIT No. 3. To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives of the Dominion of New Zealand in Parliament assembled. 1. Your petitioners are settlers residing in the East Taupo County, and represent not only themselves, but practically every settler in the said county; and your petitioners humbly pray that the petition of the Taupo Totara Company, presented to Parliament during the last session, praying for leave to extend their present private railway-line a distance of some nineteen miles, via Wairakei to Taupo, be taken into favourable consideration. 2. Your petitioners present that the immediate construction of such a railxvay connection is necessary in the best interests of the Dominion, and will, inter- alia, (a) open up and lead to the development of over 1,000,000 acres of land now lying xvaste and uncultivated, and therefore do much to allay the present unsatisfied land-hunger and populate this large area of country xx'hich at present is almost entirely depopulated; (b) double the value, xvithout expense to the State, of some 350,000 acres of Crown land at present lying xvaste and a heavy expense and burden to the State; (c) greatly increase the tourist traffic of the Dominion; (d) benefit the settlers, and greatly promote the settlement, development, and growth of this large district; (e) form a direct or extension of the important proposed connection of the Main Trunk line via Tokaanu, Taupo, and Wairakei xvith the present line of Government railway via Putaruru to Auckland.