Transport Difficulties Fifty Years Ago.

Within the purview of that old Commission came the question of rail access to a great, fertile area known as the Thames Valley, lying between the Waikato watershed on the west, and the high ridges of the Coromandel Peninsula on the north, and embracing those wide tracts of swamps and rich pasture lands known as the Hauraki Plains. Sea and river and a few inadequate roads alone gave access to this land of promise.

The little port of Grahamstown, on the Firth of Thames, drew seaborne traffic from Auckland, while small shallow river-boats penetrated up the Thames River to Paeroa and Te Aroha. Sand banks, and snags, however, made this a hazardous route, strandings lasting a week being of frequent occurrence, and in summer time navigation on the upper reaches became impossible. On the Waikato side river-boats served a very limited area of country, and were totally inadequate for the settlers who were pressing out into the new lands being opened up.

Timber abounded north of Grahamstown, whereas the Waikato had practically none. The Waikato had coal, wattle, and produce, whereas the Grahamstown district had little or none of these commodities. The Thames goldmines were yielding their wealth abundantly, and were calling for supplies of coal, timber, and machinery.

In spite of all these circumstances, the recommendation of that old Commission was very guarded. It supported the construction of three or four miles of railway towards Morrinsville and Cambridge. There was a suggestion at that time that the line to Wellington should pass through Cambridge. It did not support the Grahamstown-Te Aroha railway, it being considered that the water communication between these points was adequate.