Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, OCT. 4, 1898. The Main Trunk Railway.

Manawatu Herald, 4 October 1898, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, OCT. 4, 1898. The Main Trunk Railway.

We notice that the residents of Mar non intend to hold a meeting to urge upon the Government the importance of keeping to the direct central route for the railway from the Marton Junction to Auckland. The mer chants of Auckland have always worked for the 'line to run along the coast to enable them to tap the Taranaki country quicker and cheap* r than their Wellington competitors. Looking at the qunßtion from their point of view they may be right in their Action, (or themselves, but wnen the wishes of the population of the colony is considered it must be evident to everyone who is conver Bant with the shape of the North Island that such a roundabout rbntn by New Plymouth to get to Auckland is absurd, and would be unfair to all those who reside to the south of Marton. It will be remembered i.hat the direct line was not fixed upon till all sides had been heard, md a committee of South Island members had reported in favour of it. At the present it is of consequence to all who desire that no al* teration shall be made in the route to use all the influence they possess to keep the Government straight, as bey are quite capable of ' wobbling ' f votes looked doubtful. We hold •hat this route is of the greatest con 'equenoe to 'Wellington and all the jonntry south of Stratford, as there will be a saving of 60 miles as tgainst the coast route, and the time is not distant when the needed con neotine link from the Marton Junction to Levin is built, which will then add a further fifteen miles savn?, and 65 miles in cost of traveling between Wellington and Auckland is of considerable value. We rust our Marton friends will have a good and successful meeting.