ABOUT A TRAMWAY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 849, 22 June 1910, Page 6

ABOUT A TRAMWAY.

RANGITIKEI AND THE MAIH TRUNK LINE. Tho Raugitikei County Council, Bulla Town Board, and other local authorities of the district are somewhat unhappily placed in the matter of transportation, within the county, and are seeking to remedy tho matter. At present tho Main Trunk lino traverses the eastern flank of the county for' some distance, but there is no means of getting into the district by rail, save by taking a circuitous route from Palmerston North . down to Foxton, and thence by tram-, way to Himitangi and Pukanui. Pukanui is just outside Bulls, and Bulls is only four or five miles from Greatford on tho Main Trunk line. "What tho local bodies wish to do is to be allowed to continue the tramway from Pukanui across the river to Bulls and on to Greatford, but when consulted a few days ago W regard to the work, the Minister for Railways did not favour the proposal, giving as a reason for his opposition that tho railways (meaning the lino from Palmerston to Fox- • ton) would suffer. Other's in the dis- . trict hold quite the contrary belief," that the completion of the tramline to Greatford would act as a feeder to the Main Trunk line. It should bo explained (for the sake _of those not. acquainted with tho district) that the tramway from Foxton to Himitangi is owned by tho Government, and that from Himitangi on' to Pukanui the line is tho property of the County Council. Local opinion does not care who does tho work—the Government or the local bodies —so long as it is done. Goods from tho north for Bulls are not transferred to the coach at Greatford (only, five miles away), but are sent on via Palmertson -North, Foxton, and Himitangi, a distance of over fifty miles.' On learning the Minister's views o» the proposal, a movement was set on foot immediately to petition Parliament to either get the Government to do the' work or allow the local bodies to complete the line to Greatford. The petition is being' largely signed in the district, and will, it is hoped, be considered by the Petitions Committee early in the coming session.