The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 February 1913, Page 2

The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY

L E V J N. MONDAY, EEBIU'AI! Y :M. PALMERSTO.N \S DOVECOT FLUTTERED. I'AUiiiKSTo.v.s dovecot is fluttered in tho ponding permission i'lum the Railway Department for the connection ol' SandoiL tramline with the Government railway at .Marton, tin Palinerston Chamber of Commerce sees a menace to Pahnerston's wellbeing. The fear surely is ill-found-ed, but the chamber certainly is a]) prehensile. When the present members of the chamber are toothless and reminiscent they will lie abl• to smile reflectively on their present l'eaisome feelings. Palmeiv ton. the centre of a great fertile plain of pastoral and agricultural districts, always will prosper; just as surely as Levin will, and Eoxton. and other localities which will be helped when the main trunk line takes its natural course and abandons the tortuous uphill route via Palinerston that it now does. However, Palinerston "is" excited: the clarion call to arms which we re. print to-day attests that. It : s issued from the Palinerston North Chamber of Commerce, and is being sent to the leading local bodies oi Palinerston. Feilding. Wangan.ii. Hawke's Hay. and Wairarapa. The circular letter runs - .—"The proposal that the Railway Department slin'l allow a connection to be made by tho Sandon tramline with the Gorernment line at Marton has now assumed. definite shape. The Minister of Railways has just boen taken over tho Sandon tramline route, and a very large and influential deputation has waited on him at Marton. Tho Minister has intimated that he will refer tho request to Cabinet and has asked for further information, it has been freely stated, that this connection is only a step towards the Government taking over the tramline and ultimately extending it from Eoxton to Levin. It is hardly necessary to point out that if tho LevinMarton line eventuates it will !>o used as part of tho Main Trunk Line from Auckland to "Wellington, and would therefore "most adversely afreet tho welfare and prospects of Palinerston and Feilding, and to a large extent the communication between the whole of Hawke's Bay and tho Wairarapa with the Main Trunk Lino and the West Coast. It would mean that passengors to and from the east side of the range would have to take a connecting train from Palinerston North to Marton or Levin in order to connect with the Main Trunk. The matter is of such importance that it is proposed to form a strong and representative deputation to wait on the Minister of Railways with a view of preventing any movement detrimental to tho districts affected. Ton are requested to appoint a delegate to attend r meeting to ho held in Palmerstnn North on Monday. March I.oth. at 2.30 p.m., when matters will he discussed, and a conns' 1 of action determined on. Other matters relating to railways in your district can ho brought tip."